Susan Chlopicki, a comedian, activist, and charity worker, has died at the age of 59 from lung cancer. She was known for her standup comedy across the UK and her written work featured on the BBC.
Early Life and Career
Born in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, Sue was the daughter of Mary (nee Vale) and Jan Chlopicki, a Polish translator who took manual work after coming to the UK. The family moved to Swindon, where Sue attended Dorcan comprehensive school. She began A-levels at Swindon College but did not complete them, instead taking vocational courses in dressmaking and horticulture. In 1985, she worked as a clerical officer at the Department for Work and Pensions, then moved to Blaengarw in Bridgend, south Wales, to work with a community gardening group supporting ex-offenders.
Standup Comedy
Sue started standup in Manchester in the 1990s, a time when few women were on the circuit, performing under the name Susan Vale. Her material was close to the bone and cheekily rude but expertly written. She was a wonderfully quirky presence, often ending her set by saying, “I can’t sing but I can tap dance,” then stripping to a sequined outfit and dancing to Happy Feet, sometimes while eating a swiss roll. She performed at Glastonbury from the early 2000s, the Edinburgh Fringe in 2006, and at the Lowry in Salford with Robin Ince and Brian Cox in 2019. At Latitude festival in 2007, she wowed the audience and host Robin Ince with her encyclopaedic knowledge of the Fall’s albums. She returned to the Suffolk festival in 2010.
Writing and Editing
Sue worked as a writer and editor, penning skits for Radio 4’s The In Crowd. More recently, she adapted stories from The Wombles, the children’s books by Elisabeth Beresford, with producer Sally Harrison for BBC Radio.
Education and Charity Work
In the early 1990s, she completed a performing arts course at Manchester Polytechnic (now Manchester Metropolitan University), leading to her standup career. She also volunteered at the Stockport Mind day centre and later became a funding officer for Stockport Community and Voluntary Service and Forever Manchester. In 2017, she earned a degree in environmental science from the University of Manchester.
Personal Life
In 1987, Sue had a daughter, Eliah, whom she raised as a solo parent. Eliah grew up around comedy gigs, sitting in the front row with her toys while Sue performed. Sue lived in Levenshulme, Manchester, in a housing co-operative she was involved in, sharing her home with friend and BBC radio comedy producer Carl Cooper and five chihuahuas she doted on. Her home was a hub for comedians, writers, and artists, filled with laughter, fun, and serious support.
Sue is survived by Eliah.
