Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

Celebrated Welsh comedian Phil Evans is set to give the ‘inside track’ on what makes good comedy. The man who puts the ‘cwtsh’ into comedy is bravely putting himself on the analyst’s couch for a one-man show with a difference. The ‘difference’ is that it isn’t so much a one-man show as a two-man ‘fun fest’, with Phil being interrogated by fellow comedian Daniel Glyn. The ‘Phil Evans Exposed’ show is a one-night-only event at Llanelli’s Best Western Diplomat Hotel on Saturday, November 1. Phil explained: “This sort of question and answer interrogation is long overdue and something that I’ve has been putting off for quite a few years. “Everybody’s been asking me to do a Q & A show. The truth is that I have now run out of excuses.” TV personality, film reviewer and fellow comedian Gary Slaymaker is excited about the event. “Phil Evans is true showbiz royalty - not only the Clown Prince of Comedy, but also the King of the Cwtsh. “With many years experience, Phil isn't so much a c...

Did you hear the one about the two comedians who tried to tell jokes to the town’s deaf club? No? Well, you’re about to. In what is expected to be a ‘Welsh first’ comedians Phil Evans and Daniel Glyn are staging a show with live sign language for the deaf and hard of hearing. “It sounds impossible,” said Phil, who is famous for his promotion of the Welsh ‘cwtsh’ (hug). “But laughter is for everyone and we’ve always been determined to reach the parts other comedians fail to reach. “We believe we are the first comedians in Wales to try this idea – a live laugh-a-minute show with sign language, a treat which makes sure everyone gets the joke!” The Comedy and Cwtshes event takes place at The Diplomat Hotel, Llanelli, on Saturday, February 22. The sign language support will be provided by Sarah Williams. She said: “I’ve been ‘Signing’ from the age of three. This was due to a wonderful and special lady in our lives, who was my grandmother and was born deaf. She taught me so much a...

Love is in the air for some of the best comedians in Wales as they prepare to celebrate the Welsh patron saint of lovers, St Dwynwen. Prepare yourself for passion and punchlines at the Pontardawe Arts Centre, 7.30pm on Saturday, January 25. The evening is billed as Love and Laughs, a comedy extravaganza orchestrated by Phil Evans, the man who puts the ‘cwtsh’ into Welsh comedy. “It’s an evening when you’ll feel the love in the air,” promises Phil, the Ammanford-based Hug-meister who is a firm advocate of ‘five a day’ – cwtshes, that is! “We’ve pulled together some of the best stand-up talent in Wales for a very special evening to celebrate the Welsh St Valentine’s Night. “Loved-up couples who plan to propose marriage, singles looking for love . . . all are welcome for a special evening which will see Pontardawe feel the power of Love and Laughs.” The evening features Phil Evans (Gala Gomedi, S4C) alongside Daniel Glyn (Gwerthu Allan, S4C), Ignacio Lopez (Show Me The Funny, ITV), Ed H...

They’ve been a hit on TV and now they are storming the cultural fortress that is the National Eisteddfod for the second year in a row. Armed only with large quantities of the medicine called laughter and well-rehearsed comic timing, the mini rugby team of Welsh comics will be performing at the Denbighshire and District National Eisteddfod on Wednesday (August 7). Led by Daniel Glyn (top), Gary Slaymaker (second from top) and Phil Evans (above), the comedians were let loose in the Eisteddfod Pavilion at the 2012 Vale of Glamorgan National Eisteddfod. “That gala night, called ‘Gala Comedi’ turned out to be a big hit,” said Ammanford-based funnyman Phil Evans. “The evening has since been screened twice on S4C and the public reaction has been great. “It was brave move by the Eisteddfod organisers to put us on in the hallowed arena of the Eisteddfod pavilion, but it worked a treat. “Now, we are delighted that we have been invited back to stage a brand new comedy night in Denbigh....

 Heard the one about the Welsh comedians who were let loose in the Eisteddfod Pavilion? Well, you’re about to hear it again as the Welsh fourth channel S4C broadcasts a special comedy gala night staged at the 2012 Vale of Glamorgan National Eisteddfod. The gala night was billed at the time as ‘the biggest night in Welsh language comedy history’. Now, ‘Gala Comedi’ is being show on TV for the first time (9pm Saturday, July 6) as the highlight of S4C's Comedy Week. The comedy night represented a major breakthrough for the comedians taking part and a bold move by National Eisteddfod organisers. Daniel Glyn (pictured top) was one of the organisers and performers at the gala. He said, “It used to be said that the National Eisteddfod was not the place for stand-up comedy - it didn't appeal to the traditional audience. But, we always doubted whether that was true.” The theory was put to the test by comedians Tudur Owen, Ifan Tregaron, Gary Slaymaker, Dewi Pws Morris, Phil ...

You've heard of Three Stooges and the Three Tenors . . .  Now there's the Three Comedians. Three of the most celebrated comedians in Wales will be taking to the ‘field of play’ in Ystradgynlais later this week. The occasion sees the reprise of the famous ‘The Dragon Has Three Tongues’ show, featuring Phil Evans (above), Daniel Glyn and Gary Slaymaker. “There be plenty of tongue-in-cheek points scoring a few conversions to the best in Welsh comedy,” promises Ammanford-based Phil Evans. The acclaimed show has played in all four corners of Wales and was taken on its first ‘foreign tour’ last year when it formed the cornerstone of St David’s Day celebrations in Toronto in Canada. Evans said: “Welsh audiences will be familiar with what the show is all about, but we haven’t given it an airing in Wales for a few months now, so it will be great fun to take it to heartland territory in Ystradgynlais.” ‘The Dragon Has Three Tongues’ will be staged at The Welfare in Brecon Road, ...

In need of cheer after the doom and gloom of the rugby? Then, look no further than the Triple Crown of comedy in Wales. Three of the most celebrated comedians in Wales will be taking to the ‘field of play’ in Ystradgynlais later this month. The occasion sees the reprise of the famous ‘The Dragon Has Three Tongues’ show, featuring Phil Evans (above), Daniel Glyn and Gary Slaymaker. “There be plenty of tongue-in-cheek points scoring a few conversions to the best in Welsh comedy,” promises Ammanford-based Phil Evans. The acclaimed show has played in all four corners of Wales and was taken on its first ‘foreign tour’ last year when it formed the cornerstone of St David’s Day celebrations in Toronto in Canada. Evans said: “Welsh audiences will be familiar with what the show is all about, but we haven’t given it an airing in Wales for a few months now, so it will be great fun to take it to heartland territory in Ystradgynlais.” ‘The Dragon Has Three Tongues’ will be staged at The Welfar...

Heard the one about the three Welsh comedians heading to Toronto to celebrate St David’s Day? The St David’s Society of Toronto will hear all about it on Saturday night (March 3) as Phil Evans, Gary Slaymaker and Daniel Glyn jet into Canada for a night of stand-up comedy. The three comedians will be performing their critically-acclaimed show ‘The Dragon Has Three Tongues’. “It’s a showcase of the very best in Welsh comedy,” said Evans. “Welsh audiences will be familiar with what the show is all about, but this is the first time we have taken it abroad. “The St David’s Day Society of Toronto is made up of Welsh ‘exiles’ in Canada, so we’ll be mixing the comedy with some ‘hiraeth’ (longing) for the Land of My Fathers.” Messrs Evans, Slaymaker and Glyn are three familiar faces and voices in Wales and appear regularly on S4C (Welsh language TV) as well as BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru. Two years ago they joined forces to create ‘The Dragon Has Three Tongues’ to provide an innovativ...