Michael has sought help for his mental health over the past few years and has struggled with his confidence.
Given those circumstances, throwing himself into stand-up is a daunting prospect – but he’s embraced the challenge.
“The first thing I said was: ‘What’s the worst that can go wrong?
“I did stutter at the start, I sort of froze – but I came back in again. Just a joy to get up there. I think I kept it together well.
“My wee trick was I done a lot of practising.”
He’s now performed three gigs, using all his own material.
“It’s all true, I didn’t make any of this stuff up.”
Carla Sloan says she’s had mental health issues for most of her adult life and had never imagined trying her hand at stand-up until now.
“I’ve done lots of mental health courses on emotional resilience and stuff but this was something completely different.
“The first day I drove into the car park and then I was like: ‘No.’
“I turned the car around and I drove back down the road and then I thought: ‘Ah, I’m here, I might as well go in and see what it’s about’.”