A stand-up comedian will share public-speaking skills at an event for women next month.

Viv Groskup, who is also a writer and television host in Britain, will showcase the oratorical skills of well-regarded speakers such as Virginia Woolf, Joan Rivers and Michelle Obama at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club on February 6.

The event is organised by WeSpeak Bermuda, a group dedicated to building female public-speaking skills and opportunities.

Ms Groskop will explain how the speakers capture attention and connect with audiences.

Kathleen Faries, the chairwoman of WeSpeak, said: “We are thrilled to announce this first event on WeSpeak’s 2020 calendar and we know it will prove inspiring and empowering.

“Viv has been a keen supporter of WeSpeak’s mission since we launched last year, so we look forward to welcoming her to Bermuda to meet our community’s fabulous women and share her humour and expertise.”

WeSpeak board member Jo Stanton approached Ms Groskop after she heard her on BBC Radio 4.

Ms Stanton said: “She was talking about women and public speaking, and I found her so inspiring, I contacted her to discuss our new organisation.

“To my delight, she was enthusiastic about our plans and offered her support.”

Ms Groskop is the host of the Top-10 iTunes podcast How to Own the Room, based on her bestselling book whose companion volume, Lift as You Climb: Women and The Art of Ambition, will be published in March.

She has performed five one-woman shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, she is a Funny Women Finalist, So You Think You’re Funny semi-finalist, and regular guest presenter on BBC Radio 4.

She has also appeared on Front Row, Saturday Review, Saturday Live, Woman’s Hour, Today, The World Tonight, Quote Unquote and Where’s the F in News?

WeSpeak co-founder Kirsten Beasley said: “We are so excited to bring Viv to the island for this special event aimed at demonstrating how women in Bermuda can also ‘own the room’ — whether that’s a boardroom, an auditorium, or a far less formal environment.

“WeSpeak is now a year old, and we’ve come a long way, so this is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate our journey and share our mission with a greater number of people.”

More than 100 women from diverse industries, careers and backgrounds took part in both WeSpeak’s successful Speakers Boot Camps last year.

The group incorporated last autumn as a local company and non-profit.

•Registration for the event is open on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets are $75 per person, or $275 for a group of four. To find out more about WeSpeak, e-mail events@wespeak.bm