Have you heard the one about the private school teacher who swapped her career for life as a naked comedian?

The only butt of this joke is the one audience members will see when they go to watch Miss Glory Pearl in her one-woman show, The Naked Stand-Up.

The performer, whose real name is Emma Mitchell, taught English at Sutton Valence School but left to explore her other talents and is now preparing to debut her material – and body – at the Edinburgh Festival next week.

She said: "After I decided I wanted to do stand-up, my next thought was what to wear, as an outfit tends to pigeon hole how you're perceived as a comedian.

"I was struggling to think of a style and I thought 'I'll just go naked' and then realised The Naked Stand-Up sounded pretty good, so I went from there."

The show-woman, who lives off Quarry Hill in Tonbridge, claims to be the first female comic to perform an entire show at the prestigious entertainment festival completely in the buff.

The dry humoured script is based on observational jokes and pokes fun at the laws surrounding nudity.

The artist left the North Street, Maidstone, school in 2005 after seven years in the role.

She worked in advertising before becoming a pole dancing instructor and then a burlesque dancer in 2008.

The writer said: "I enjoyed teaching but I felt like I was giving the kids all of my creativity and ideas, which I don't resent them for.

"I think they used to think I was a bit different to the other teachers. I was awarded most sarcastic teacher one year.

"Stand-up is similar to teaching in a classroom in that you have to stand in front of an audience and command their attention."

She added: "I've seen some of my former pupils at my previous shows. They think it's great."

The Naked Stand-Up will run at the Edinburgh Festival from next Friday until Sunday, August 24, except for Tuesday, August 12.

For more details, visit www.edfringe.com.