Comedians team up to storm the Eisteddfod once again
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.”
Evans added: “It’s a great idea to have a comedy gala at the Eisteddfod and it creates a new and vibrant stage for Welsh comedians.
“It’ll be a fantastic experience to appear with so many other performers and I am delighted that the Eisteddfod has organised a comedy evening again this year. I hope that it will be a great success, and that we’ll see more comedy nights at the Eisteddfod in the future.”
The comedians in the ‘gang’ have been on tour all summer, perfecting and polishing their jokes ready for the Eisteddfod.
The line up will feature familiar faces from last year’s comedy gala alongside new comedy talent, with Daniel Glyn, Gary Slaymaker and Phil Evans being joined by Rhian ‘Madam Rygbi’ Davies (pictured above), Beth Angell and Noel James.
The comedy night is being staged in the Eisteddfod’s prestigious Literary Pavilion (Y Babell Lên).
Daniel Glyn, one of the evening’s organisers, explained “We were very grateful for the chance to experiment with the comedy gala at last year’s Eisteddfod.
“It was the largest comedy gig ever to be held in the Welsh language and the reaction to the idea of comedy on the Eisteddfod site was extremely positive.
“We were therefore keen to organise a similar event at this year’s Eisteddfod so we came up with the concept of ‘Y Babell Lon’. Y Babell Lên as the Babell Lon used to be called is the perfect location for us, so we hope to have a full house on the Wednesday to enjoy the talents of a very special group of comedians.”
“Gary, Phil and I all performed at last year’s Comedy Gala. It was an unforgettable evening, a feeling that we were being naughty on the pavilion stage – an iconic Welsh location.”
New faces at the Denbigh Eisteddfod will include Rhian ‘Madam Rugby’ Davies, a familiar face to viewers of the Jonathan show on S4C.
Beth Angell has been performing stand-up for more than 10 years. Beth was the first Welsh female to perform at the Machynlleth Comedy Festival in 2010, and this year she returned to Machynlleth to perform in the bilingual festival.
Eisteddfod spokesman Elfed Roberts said “The concept of the Babell Lon is a great one and I sincerely hope it will be a full house. There is certainly a place for comedy at the Eisteddfod as last year’s comedy gala clearly showed. I have never before seen so much laughter in the pavilion and it was a pleasure to see so many people enjoying something completely different at the Eisteddfod.
“This year’s event will be a development of last year’s Comedy Gala and it is great to see a night like this come under the Maes C brand. An opportunity to see new artists and an opportunity to get to know the comedy of the old guard even more. I hope everyone who attends enjoys the evening. Tickets are already on sale on line or through calling our ticket line 0845 4090 800.”
The Denbighshire and District National Eisteddfod will be held on the outskirts of Denbigh until August 10. For more information go to the website - www.eisteddfod.org.uk
Weblinks –
http://www.philevans.co.uk
http://www.eisteddfod.org.uk/english/2013/news-2013/?request=4177
@philevanswales
@DanielGlyn
@TheSlay
@MadamRygbi
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