She may be an embarrassment to her sons, but Maxine Jones believes that being a 50-something gives her an edge in comedy

I’m an English comedian who has lived in Dublin for 25 years, and I’m bringing my solo show Invisible Woman to the Old Fire Station Oxford tomorrow (Friday). People are sometimes a bit surprised to see a 58-year-old female comic, but that can work to my advantage.

My sons, in their 20s, are mortified that I do comedy. But I’ve long rebelled against them.

My first Edinburgh show in 2012 was called Embarrassing Mother. I would embarrass them as soon as I opened my mouth. Mainly because I’m English and they’re all born in Dublin.

My current show is called Invisible Woman because as you get older, as a woman, you definitely become more invisible.

When I was flyering the show in Edinburgh, I would focus on older women, saying “Do you want to see a show about how older women turn invisible.” One old lady took me literally. “Really,” she said. “How?”

Invisible Woman sold out four nights at the Mill Theatre Dublin, and is now heading for the UK.

The UK comedy website Chortle listed me in the top ten ‘feminist fatales’. And reviews have been kind. The Irish website entertainment.ie called me ‘outstandingly funny.’ A review from the Buxton Fringe festival said, “Raises questions and issues around gender roles in a gentle yet probing way. The audience loved it.”

I also run a comedy club in Blackrock, Dublin.

I particularly encourage women to get up and have a go, just to balance things out a bit. There are some excellent young — and older — women comics now getting a foothold on the circuit.

I left my job at the Independent in London to move to Dublin on a whim in 1990.

Working on the Sunday Tribune I met the father of my three sons, whom I divorced in 1996, when divorce was first introduced to Ireland. I set up my own magazine, Suburb, from home and worked as a freelance columnist, reviewer and travel writer.

I have cycled from Turkey through Syria, the Lebanon, Jordan, Israel and Egypt; and also around south India; driven an old VW Scirocco across the Sahara to the Gambia; and a Citro ën 2CV over the Atlas mountains to Morocco.

Mostly during these years, however, I was just trying to keep the house clean and the boys fed and out of trouble.

Now they are reared I am focusing on writing and performing comedy and am busy preparing for my third Edinburgh show.

I’ll be sad to leave Invisible Woman behind. Many people have identified with it and it’s close to my heart. I’m looking forward to bringing it to Oxford, especially to such a lovely venue.

Invisible Woman will be at the Old Fire Station Oxford on February 20, 8pm, £10/£8. www.oldfirestation.co.uk www.maxinejonescomedy.com