What to See at Machynlleth Comedy Festival
Before the stellar month of comedy that is the Edinburgh Fringe comes Machynlleth Festival, a hub of comedy in a little market town in Mid Wales, featuring everyone from up and comers to established acts. There are hundreds of shows going on across the weekend, so we’ve picked out the ones we’re most excited for.
If you missed any of last year’s Edinburgh shows then Mach is the place to seek them out! Kiri Pritchard McLean is taking her hit show Appropriate Adult where she talks about mentoring vulnerable children. You can also catch Tom Allen’s show Absolutely as part of the comic’s fabulous debut tour.As well as last year’s Edinburgh shows there’s also the chance to see Works in Progress of the ones that will be smash hits by the end of the summer. Check out Olga Koch with her WIP of her debut hour Fight, an hour of stand up about Koch’s father getting stopped on the Russian border and the strange year that followed in her family’s life. Comedy poet Rob Auton will be working out a new show, ‘The Talk Show’. Auton’s work brilliantly and smartly blurs the boundaries between theatre, comedy and spoken word and this show looks set to be no different.
Image Credit: Julian Ward via Rob Auton instagram
One of last year’s Edinburgh Award nominees Jordan Brookes is not only bringing his nominated show Body of Work to the festival but also a work in progress, Wait Till the Guys Hear About This. Double bill them to see the most of Brookes, one of the most exciting comics we have. Another previous Edinburgh award nominee is Lucy Pearman, bringing a new work in progress to Mach. It’s simply titled Work in Progress, but expect grapes, worms, and hilarity.
Another double bill opportunity is John Kearns, the only person to ever win both the Best Show and the Best Newcomer Edinburgh comedy award in one year. Kearns is not only bringing his show Don’t worry They’re Here but will also be appearing with Pat Cahill, in 110% John Kearns and Pat Cahill where the pair discuss their favourite topics, bloopers, songs, and welcome their friends from the alternative comedy scene for a night of weird comedy fun.
Another alternative comedy gang making their way to the festival is Sheeps, who after a brief hiatus are returning to the comedy scene. The trio, made up of Liam Williams, Daran Johnson, and Al Roberts, are bringing their weird sketches to the festival in the shape of Live and Loud Selfie Sex Harry Potter. If that title doesn’t get you excited, then we don’t know what will.
Image Credit: Sheeps
After the success of his Netflix stand-up series, James Acaster brings some new stuff to Machynlleth – Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999 and Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 2017 examine both the best and worst years of Acaster’s life, 18 years apart - the 1999 edition may be sold out but there are still tickets left for the 2017 edition. You can also catch James performing Babysits at the festival, a show where James gets the audience of children to write and perform a play.
Image Credit: Mach Comedy Fest
And lastly, for the welsh speakers amongst you, Elis James, star of Radio X podcast brings his welsh language stand up to the festival, where he will tell his favourite stories from 2015 in his natural habitat – a school hall in Machynlleth.
There’s plenty more on at Machynlleth and you can find the whole programme here. The festival runs from 4-6 May.
