If comedian Tiff Stevenson's face is familiar, that's because she had a role in Ricky Gervais' The Office and is a panellist on shows such as Mock The Week and Never Mind The Buzzcocks.

Now the comedian called 'fantastically sharp' by fellow stand-up Jo Brand is bringing her show Optimist to Maidstone's Hazlitt Theatre on Friday, October 17.

Fresh from a month-long run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, delightfully outspoken Tiff will navigate her audience on an optimistic course through hangovers, the Kardashians, guns, the NHS, your inner-critic and Everyday Vodka.

Tiff is a polished old-hand, being the curator and host of London’s legendary stand-up night Old Rope, a weekly showcase of new material from both distinguished and up-and-coming acts.

She told What's On: "This show's got quite a strong thread running through it about the NHS, but we go through everything from depression to the Kardashians and my love of Stevie Nicks. My stand-up is at it's best if I'm doing social, political and personal.

"Sometimes they're just jokes, but most of the time they're a bit more layered than that. I'm absorbing the world around me and there's probably not much that goes by that I don't think, I wonder how I can convert that to something, whether that's a piece of stand-up, and article or a sketch."

And for fans of The Office who just can't recall exactly which scenes she features in, let's put you out of your misery: "I play a character called Lorna in series one, episode five. Basically I snog Finchy, that's how most people will remember it," says Tiff.

DETAILS

Tiff is at Maidstone Hazlitt Theatre with Optimist on Friday, October 17 at 8pm. Tickets cost £10. Visit www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk or call 01622 758611.