Three popular Welsh comedians are planning to add extra mirth to the inaugural Merthyr Comedy Festival in April.
The ‘Comedy and Cwtshes’ event at Dowlais Theatre will be held on Saturday, April 14.
Tickets are on sale now via Redhouse – and are going fast.
The evening will feature classic stand-up comedy, with Phil Evans – the man with more pop than a bottle of Corona – in the vanguard of a three-part attack on the funny bones.
The evening will also feature BBC broadcaster Gary Slaymaker and another seasoned radio performer in Aled Richards.
“I always have to watch my words when describing Gary Slaymaker, but it’s fair to say we are three ‘big’ comedy performers in every sense of the word,” said Phil.
“The Apocalypse has its three horsemen, but Welsh comedy has its three joybringers, who promise to bring lorry loads of laughs to the first Merthyr Comedy Festival.”
Spread over two days and around 10 different venues in the town, the festival will showcase a huge range of comedy talent, including some of the biggest stars of the British comedy circuit, rising talent from around the UK, children’s shows, family shows and shows that are a little more adult in their nature.
There promises to be something for everyone across the festival programme.
Phil Evans and Friends with be at Dowlais Theatre between 5pm – 6pm on April 14 for Comedy and Cwtshes.
About Phil Evans:
Phil Evans is a hugely sought-after comedian, writer, newspaper columnist and conference host from the heart of South Wales.
With multiple TV and radio credits to his name at home in the UK, Phil has also performed far and wide, including Oslo, America and Canada.
Phil has recently performed and hosted events in Dublin and Cork for corporate organisations and keeps getting asked back,. He is renowned for his warmth, humour and likeability.
Phil started his comedy career many years back as a TV warm-up artist for the BBC, S4C and HTV/ITV and continues to perform alongside many of the most talented people in entertainment.
With more than 20 years experience, Phil isn’t so much a comic, but more like a force of nature.
Phil is the man who has put the ‘Cwtsh’ back into Welsh comedy.
He is sometimes known as the ‘Hugmeister of Wales’ for his devotion to his favourite topic – the Welsh cwtsh (hug).
If you can spare the time (possibly a week or so), he will explain why a cwtsh should always be spelt as ‘cwtsh’ and not ‘cwtch’.
Press him for further information about how his comedy career started and he will tell you how he left school with 10 GCSEs . . . before the headmaster told him to put them back!
Cheeky, but never crude or offensive, Evans produces a very Welsh brand of humour.
He writes a popular weekly column in the South Wales Evening Post, the Carmarthen Journal and the Llanelli Star newspapers.
He also has a weekly podcast called “The Big Cwtsh’, available now on SoundCloud.
He’s guaranteed to bring ‘mirth’ to Merthyr!
“Phil Evans – the resident ‘Hug-meister’ of Wales . . . the one man who knows how to spell ‘cwtsh’ properly . . .a free-wheeling fun merchant who is close to being a national Welsh treasure”.
Robert Lloyd, media consultant and former newspaper editor.
Website –
Twitter @philevanswales
About Aled Richards:
Shit happens. And every cloud has a silver lining, apparently.
So indeed, a major health scare can spawn a whole new comedy routine.
Aled Richards is known for musing over the latest shit things that have happened in his life. You may have seen him on S4C. You may have heard him on Radio Cymru. Or you may not have. You will however be able to hear him in Merthyr. So go along. You may laugh.
Gary Slaymaker:
Gary Slaymaker is a BBC Radio Wales film reviewer, author, comedy writer, and broadcaster . . . which means he’s either quite talented, or can’t keep hold of a single job.
With more than 25 years of experience as a stand-up comedian, he’s managed to upset people all over Britain . . . but mainly his mam.
Gary is completely toilet trained, but does sometimes have trouble with his aiming.
The same is true for his humour.
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