What do you call a group of comedians? A gaggle? A riot? Or, simply, a lot of fun!
Anyone struggling to find a collective noun will find the answer at The Hyst in Swansea High Street on Friday, October 12.
The popular venue is staging a ‘Comedy Showcase’ featuring many of the most talented comedians working in Wales today.
The event is billed as ‘Phil Evans and Friends’ and will see the entertainer and newspaper columnist joined on stage by Gary Slaymaker, Aled Richards, Karen Sherrard and Steffan Evans.
Phil Evans is known as an accomplished stage performer who has more pop than a case of Corona.
He’ll be in the vanguard of a five-pronged attack on the funny bones.
“It’ll be the first time for many of us to perform at The Hyst,” said Phil.
“We are looking forward to enjoying the venue’s unique atmosphere. It’s a casual evening; you don’t have to get dressed up for it! But we do guarantee lorry loads of laughs.
“I always have to watch my words when describing fellow comedian Gary Slaymaker, but it’s fair to say he is a ‘big’ performer in every sense of the word. He’s well known as the BBC Radio Wales film reviewer. He’s an author, comedy writer and broadcaster. A special freight train has been organised to bring him in to Swansea!”
Aled Richards has been in the news lately taking part in a special Radio Wales programme to celebrate World Heart Day. If anybody can make a heart attack sound funny, then he can! His stage act does ‘celebrate’ the strange things that happen in Aled’s life.
Karen Sherrard is a real ‘character’ comedian. You may find it difficult recognising the ‘real life’ Karen Sherrard in some of her ‘on stage’ personas. She’s also well known as a comedy writer and voice-over artist.
Steffan Evans is a gifted storyteller who enjoys performing in both Welsh and English. He’s from Crymych in Pembrokeshire, which may explain a lot about his act.
Comedy ringmaster Phil Evans added: “All in all, it’s going to be a great night at The Hyst. We have five big hitters from the Welsh comedy circuit (some bigger than others!). We’re going to have fun on stage and we can guarantee a great night out for what we hope will be a full house at The Hyst.
Comedy Showcase – Phil Evans and Friends is at The Hyst, 218 High Street, Swansea, at 7.30pm on Friday, October 12. To book, go to www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/swansea/the-hyst
Tickets are £10.
About Phil Evans:
Phil Evans is a much 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 of experience, Phil isn’t just a comic; he’s 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.
“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 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.
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 at The Hyst. So, go along. You may laugh.
About Karen Sherrard:
Karen Sherrard was the winner of The Last Mic Standing comedy competition in 2014. She specialises in ‘character’ comedy. She trained at the Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama in London and also works as a comedy writer and a voice-over artist.
About Steffan Evans:
Steffan Evans may have been seen working behind the bars in Cardiff, but these days he’s more at home on the stage. He’s from Crymych, but he asks people not to hold that against him. He’s performed at Neath and Cardiff Comedy Festivals and is building a growing reputation on the Wales comedy circuit.
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