The standup comedy scene – incorporating cabaret and other related performance styles – is buoyant of late. Yes, even in Wales. Promoters Little Wander can take some fair credit for that, and Isobel Grace Cox kicks off her standup roundup for February and March with a rundown of the funnypeople on their Comedy Gala bill.
The Little Wander Comedy Gala
Hosted by Kiri Pritchard-McLean, for St David’s Day Welsh comedy promoters par excellence Little Wander also the team behind the Machynlleth Comedy Festival – have assembled a seven-comedian evening. Jen Brister’s routines often explore the wild ride of parenting to heartfelt and hilarious effect; her 2019 memoir The Other Mother transfers this to the page. Tom Davis worked on a building site before pivoting to comedy, and sold out a recent tour Underdog, which explored this unlikely trajectory – while the brilliantly awkward Mike Wozniak has recently been on the comedy radar as Taskmaster’s new junior assistant.
Both East London comedian Jamali Maddix and UK-based Frenchwoman Celya AB are debuting their brand new live shows this year, respectively titled Aston and Of All People. With Jamali garnering praise for his brutally honest style and Celya raking up 1.2 million views for a sketch talking about quiche, this evening might be a good glimpse into their styles of comedy. Finally, Jin Hao Li: a new face on the UK scene, one already recognised for intertwining real-world personal experiences and whimsical narratives.
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, Sat 1 Mar.
Tickets: £28.50. Info: here
Maisie Adam
Since starting her comedy journey in 2016, Yorkshire’s Maisie Adam has climbed the ranks year on year to become one of the most popular comedians on the contemporary UK circuit. A fine time, then, to review her entire professional and personal life so far – as self-deprecatingly as ever, naturally – in the form of her current show, Appraisal.
She guested on Rob Brydon’s podcast, Brydon &, in January, and this month the last leg of the tour includes two Welsh dates. If you’re the type of comedy punter who enjoys audience interaction, this one should be the show for you – although you’re also advised to arrive punctually, least you be interrogated and made a recurring joke for the rest of the evening…
Pontio, Bangor, Fri 7 Feb; Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Sat 8
Tickets: £21. Info: Bangor / Aberystwyth
Louis Cyfer & Victoria Scone: Urge To Murder
If you’re interested in that niche place where comedy meets true crime, do I have the show for you. The night’s dynamic detective duo are Cardiff’s own Victoria Scone – the first ever cis female contestant on Drag Race UK – and Louis Cyfer, the first ever drag king to win Drag Idol UK, and they’re back in Cardiff with Urge To Murder, billed as a murder mystery cabaret. Although it features live singing, some very dramatic storytelling and – of course – code-cracking, perhaps the real star of the show is the unmatched chemistry between the pair, Urge To Murder being just one of their many hilarious collaborations throughout the years.
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, Fri 7 Feb
Tickets: £20. Info: here
George Lewis
While most parents encourage you to curb your scrolling habits, George Lewis used them to combine his dadly duties with a rise to comedic fame. Social media has distributed the Stockport man’s relatable sketches of fatherhood – finding the humour in everyday life, particularly in raising his three children. After success supporting some of the biggest names in UK comedy, from Romesh Ranganathan to Tom Allen, The Best Thing You’ll Ever Do is George’s debut live show and his first headlining tour. Traversing Britain until the end of June, there’s a brace of Welsh dates in there, though the Cardiff leg is already sold out.
Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea, Sat 22 Feb; Glee Club, Cardiff Bay, Sun 9 Mar
Tickets: £17/£14 (Cardiff sold out). Info: Swansea / Cardiff
Ania Magliano
As a standout voice for women in Gen Z and famously having the worst taste in food (see episode 169 of James Acaster and Ed Gamble’s Off Menu podcast – trust me), Ania Magliano is set to hit Cardiff’s Glee Club with her autobiographical stand-up show Forgive Me, Father. Particularly popular for her wildly personal yet strangely relatable anecdotes, expect a very varied set ranging from invasive medical procedures to stalking your partner’s ex on social media – just admit it, we’ve all been there. Join Ania as she tackles the reasons behind her commitment-phobia and, most importantly, her top five celebrity breakups of all time.
Glee Club, Cardiff Bay, Wed 26 Feb.
Tickets: £17.50. Info: here
Noson Gomedi Town Hôl
All-Welsh-language standup shows are a rarity, making this one – ‘town hall comedy night’ in English – something quite special and a standout on the Welsh comedy scene. making their way to this arts centre on the north-west coast will be Hywel Pitts, whose quirky approach to comedy, often combined with musical talents, could be best described as a sort of Welsh answer to Bo Burnham; Caryl Burke, an exciting new voice on the standup scene, with a take on the absurdities of online dating being this writer’s personal favourite routine of hers; Gethin Evans, a regular presenter on BBC Radio Cymru and one whose comedy is largely influenced by the Welsh political landscape; and, headlining tonight, Welsh comedy legend Tudur Owen. With his highly anticipated debut play Huw Fyw (created in cahoots with Theatr Cymru) set to tour in May of this year, this is a good opportunity to catch Owen while he’s still in standup mode.
Neuadd Dwyfor, Pwllheli, Fri 28 Feb.
Tickets: £14. Info: here
words ISOBEL GRACE COX
