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

It promises to be a night of ‘passion and punch-lines’ when top Welsh comedian Phil Evans takes his friends into the east for Valentine’s Day. Phil Evans (and Friends) will be performing their Love and Laughter show at the Savoy Theatre, Monmouth, on Saturday, February 14. The evening follows a very successful Love and Laughter show at the Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen, held to mark St Dwynwen’s Day, the Welsh version of Valentine’s. “The west of Wales has felt the ‘love’ of our show. Now it’s the turn of east Wales,” said Phil. “They say ‘Love is all around’. Well, as comedians we are doing our best to make sure that really is the case in Wales. “There will be romance in the air for our Love and Laughter show in Monmouth. It will be a real treat for St Valentine’s Day – an experience not to be missed.” Following sell-out shows in Toronto, Edinburgh and Machynlleth Comedy Festival, Phil Evans has rounded up a group of the very best names in comedy for his ‘Friends’. With stand-up, comedy...

Celebrated TV comedian Russell Kane is one his way back to South Wales for two shows which see him team up with some of the area's local comedy heroes. November 18 marks the return to Swansea of Kane as he comes to the Brangwyn Hall with more of the hilarious stand-up comedy that won him the prestigious Edinburgh comedy award and saw him hit TV screens as a regular on 'Live at the Apollo', host of 'Britain Unzipped' and 'Live at the Electric'. Following his sell out tour (which hit Swansea Grand Theatre earlier in the year), a sinister one-man play and the publication of his debut novel, Kane is booked into the recently-renovated Brangwyn and there genuinely couldn't be a bigger act than the energetic, Essex-boy-come-comedy-king. The idea to put on the show is a collaboration between '100 Voices', an organisation well known in Swansea for raising money for numerous local charity causes and 'Comedy Sheep' a stand-up comedy group ba...

There’s no business like ‘snow business’ for South Wales comedians Ignacio Lopez and Simon Emanuel. They are jetting off this week to the snow-covered Norwegian capital of Oslo with a mission to export their own brand of Welsh humour. The duo are paying a welcome return visit to The Oslo Comedy Club for three shows from Friday, February 21. “As comedians, we love a challenge,” said Swansea-based Ignacio. “We’ve been to Norway before and we’ve been delighted to find that our brand of humour does travel well!” The break into the Norway scene came after Simon found himself on the English language comedy scene in Scandinavia when he went to visit a friend. "I saw there were English language clubs and got in touch with a few bookers to get some stage time. Before long I was the resident compere at The Oslo Comedy Club, which is a miniature theatre below a British bar called The Dirty Cow." Simon kept up the momentum by inviting fellow comedians from Wales to come and test thei...

Two of the best funnymen in Wales have reacted to the latest scientific study which claims that comedians have personality types linked with psychosis. A study by Oxford University researchers suggests comedians score highly on characteristics that in extreme cases are associated with mental illness. Unusually, they have high levels of both introversion and extroversion. The research team says the creative elements needed for humour are similar to traits seen in people with psychosis. Ammanford-based comedian Phil Evans, above gave his reaction - “Never underestimate the working comedian. “It takes talent, commitment and a burning desire to stand in front of a room full of strangers, night after night. “The need to win over the crowd is very powerful and often takes great skill. Having said that, why would you feel the need to do it in the first place? “Some of the world’s most famous people had drive, determination and skills to move crowds and achieve great things. Talent put to...

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...

It promises to be an ‘End of the Pier’ show with a difference. Four popular South Wales entertainers are getting together for ‘A Night of Music and Laughter’ for a landmark occasion at Mumbles Pier in Swansea. It will be the final night of live entertainment at Mumbles Pier before the revamp of the attraction is completed. Phil Evans, Laura Jayne, Dean Jones and Ignacio Lopez all enjoyed a very successful recent tour with top Welsh independent recording artist Paul Child. “We had a wonderful time on tour with Paul Child and there’s been a lot of popular demand to get us to perform at a local venue in Swansea,” said Evans. “This will be variety and comedy at its best. It’s an unique occasion. It’s the end of one era for the pier and the start of another.” A Night of Music and Laughter is being staged at Mumbles Pier on Friday, June 21, 7.30pm. Phil Evans is sometimes known as the 'Hugmeister of Wales' and the man who has put the 'Cwtsh' back into comedy. He is a f...

It’s being billed as the Christmas comedy DVD with a difference. Four South Wales comedians will be using Neath Little Theatre to record a special show on Friday and Saturday, December 7 and 8. Ignacio Lopez, Phil Evans, Simon Emanuel and Sarah Bridgman are producing the ‘Stand-Up in the Land of the Sheep - Christmas Special’. “Forget Michael McIntyre, Lee Evans, Peter Kay and all those other comedy superstars who produce special DVDs for the Christmas season,” said Swansea-based Ignacio Lopez. “We won’t be competing with them on their journey to their next tax-deductable million. We are producing something unique in Wales and for the people of Wales. “Our DVD will be a real ‘alternative’ to the ones produced by the TV giants this Christmas. “Instead, of the ‘stadium’ arenas seen in most live comedy DVDs, our show is being held in the slightly more intimate Neath Little Theatre! “The whole thing is very much a local affair - from the set creation to the cast of the sketches, to th...

Heard the one about the two Welsh comedians trying to get an export licence to Norway? Well, Norway is about to get the joke as two of our finest comedians get ready to perform at the Oslo Comedy Club next week. Phil Evans and Ignacio Lopez have been invited to perform in Oslo after receiving an invitation from friends in Norway. They will be on stage at the Oslo Comedy Club on October 26 and 27. "It's something of a step into the unknown, but we are looking forward to it," said Evans. "I've performed internationally before, but never in Norway, so it will be interesting to see how we are received and how much the Norwegians appreciate our sense of humour." Evans is the 'Hugmeister of Wales' and the man who has put the 'Cwtsh' back into comedy. He is a favourite warm-up comedian for TV shows on BBC, S4C and ITV. He has just finished a very successful variety show tour of South Wales with the singer Paul Child. Squeeze hi...