Machynlleth Comedy Festival
| Machynlleth Comedy Festival Gŵyl Gomedi Machynlleth | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Comedy festival |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Location(s) | Machynlleth, Wales, UK |
| Coordinates | 52°35′28″N 3°50′56″W / 52.591°N 3.849°WCoordinates: 52°35′28″N 3°50′56″W / 52.591°N 3.849°W Fatal error: The format of the coordinate could not be determined. Parsing failed. |
| Inaugurated | 23 April – 25 April 2010; 16 years ago |
| Founder | Henry Widdicombe |
| Most recent | 2 May – 4 May 2025 |
| Attendance | 8,000[1] |
| Website | machcomedyfest |
Machynlleth Comedy Festival (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.) is a comedy festival held annually in Machynlleth, Wales.
History
- Founding
- Growth
- Partnerships/funding
- Pandemic
- Present
The festival was held for the first time in 2010,[4][5] having received a grant from Powys County Council.[6]
Choice of Machynlleth
- vibrant community", "breath-taking" surroundings. Convenient railway access via Cambrian Line, but also "far enough away for people to really have to want to make the commitment to travel to the event".[7]
Each year, showcase programmes have been broadcast from the festival by BBC Radio 4 Extra and BBC Radio Wales;[7] the latter was an official partner of the festival from 2018 until 2023.[8][9]
In 2020, Machynlleth was one of many UK comedy festivals affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.[10] Organisers confirmed in March that all in-person shows would be cancelled, and that ticket reservations would be refunded.[11][12] The following month, plans were announced for an "audio version" of the festival to be hosted on BBC Radio Wales and BBC Sounds, with special programming to be broadcast between 1–3 May, when the festival had been scheduled to take place.[13] These programmes included a "documentary retrospective" marking the tenth anniversary of the festival, as well as a cabaret show, sketch comedy, and stand-up performances broadcast live from comedians' homes.[14][15] Performers included Mark Watson, Lolly Adefope and Jordan Brookes; the weekend was hosted by Kiri Pritchard-McLean.[13] This collaboration with BBC Radio Wales was repeated in 2021, when stand-up specials recorded in front of a live, virtual audience were broadcast to replace the in-person festival.[16][17]
Venues
The festival makes use of a wide range of spaces throughout the town, many of which are not ordinarily performance venues. These include Owain Glyndŵr's Parliament House, the traditional location of the 15th-century parliament of Owain Glyndŵr; Plas Machynlleth, a Georgian era stately home; Ysgol Bro Hyddgen, a local school; and Y Tabernacl, a former Wesleyan chapel that is now home to the Museum of Modern Art, Machynlleth.
- Mach Arena
- "historic and interesting rooms ... this year we're using a 16th century basement complete with original drainage pipes on display."[7]
- "Antique shops, school halls and bowling club pavilions are turned into comedy venues ... There are also special gigs on board a narrow gauge railway, in a static caravan and inside a bank vault. ... Comics perform behind the counter of a sweet shop, to an audience of 20 lucky punters"[3]
On several occasions, a dedicated service on the Corris Railway, a local narrow-gauge heritage railway, has been arranged as part of the festival. This service, known as the 'Machynlleth Comedy Festival Express',[18] is operated by a traditional steam locomotive and passenger coaches; audience members board the train at Corris railway station and are taken to watch a mixed-bill stand-up comedy show held in an engine shed at Maespoeth Junction.[19][20]
Shows
- "There’s also a highly-curated theatre programme, events for kids, and bands playing in a massive beer tent throughout the weekend."[3]
Reception
- Initial
- Continuing
- Current
In a 2010 review for BBC Wales Music, Bethan Elfyn praised the "great atmosphere" of the inaugural festival.[21] Writing for The Guardian the following year, James Kettle highlighted the festival's "top-quality lineup", and noted that the market town of Machynlleth offered a "break from the norm" of "big metropolitan centres" hosting the majority of UK comedy.[22]
- "a comedy festival for comedy fans, not for casual consumers or TV executives" Stewart Lee[3]
- "Mach has somehow managed to maintain the same intimate, friendly atmosphere of those first few years"[3]
The festival is well liked among comedians, visitors and local residents.[6][3]
References
- ↑ Cohen-Ennis, Ciara (2023-05-04). "How the small market town of Machynlleth became home to one of the world's best comedy festivals". ITVX. ITV Wales. Archived from the original on 2023-05-13. Retrieved 2025-06-07. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Widdicombe, Henry. "Henry Widdicombe's guide to Machynlleth". Visit Wales. Powys: Welsh Government. Archived from the original on 2025-05-22. Retrieved 2025-06-07.
Once the capital of Wales, this vibrant market town now plays host to 'Mach Fest'.
Unknown parameter|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Williams, Ben (2020-07-16). "Machynlleth: the best festival you've never heard of". i News (published 2017-04-26). Archived from the original on 2023-05-28. Retrieved 2025-06-27. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Rees, Mark (2022). The Little Book of Welsh Culture (paperback ed.). Cheltenham: The History Press (published 2022-06-16). ISBN 978 0 7509 9972 4.
Machynlleth Comedy Festival (April/May): Comedy is booming in Wales, with clubs and festivals popping up across the country, and Welsh-language comedy an increasingly important part of the National Eisteddfod. The annual highlight is the Machynlleth Comedy Festival, launched in 2010 and set in a series of intimate venues across the town, which has become a firm fixture in the diaries of many leading touring acts.
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- ↑ Little Wander (2013-11-15). "The festival archive". Machynlleth Comedy Festival. Archived from the original on 2025-06-09. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
the first ever Machynlleth Comedy Festival in 2010
Unknown parameter|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 6.0 6.1 Chamberlain, Laura (2012-05-03). "Henry Widdicombe on the 2012 Machynlleth Comedy Festival". BBC. Archived from the original on 2021-01-29. Retrieved 2025-06-13. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Widdicombe, Henry (2013-04-22). "Machynlleth Comedy Festival - Preview interview". British Comedy Guide. Archived from the original on 2025-06-19. Retrieved 2025-06-27. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "BBC Radio Wales announces first time partnership with Machynlleth Comedy Festival". BBC Media Centre. BBC. 2018-03-06. Archived from the original on 2025-06-27. Retrieved 2025-06-27. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Price, Josh (2023-12-17). "Powys: Machynlleth Comedy Festival's 'record' ticket sales". Powys County Times. Newsquest Media Group. Archived from the original on 2025-04-02. Retrieved 2025-06-09. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Sedgwick, Claire (2024). "COVID-19, Precarity and Comedy". Inequality in Contemporary Stand-Up Comedy in the UK. Palgrave Studies in Comedy. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan (published 2024-04-26). pp. 65–87. doi:10.1007/978-3-031-55932-7_4. eISSN 2731-4340. ISBN 978-3-031-55932-7.
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, alongside other comedy festivals such as the Machynlleth Comedy Festival, was cancelled in 2020, with Edinburgh producing a much-reduced festival programme in 2021.
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- ↑ "Machynlleth Comedy Festival cancelled". Chortle. 2020-03-17. Archived from the original on 2022-05-22. Retrieved 2025-06-09. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Gohirio gŵyl gomedi Machynlleth oherwydd y coronafeirws" [Machynlleth comedy festival postponed due to the coronavirus]. Golwg360 (in Cymraeg). 2020-03-17. Archived from the original on 2025-06-19. Retrieved 2025-06-19. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Machynlleth Comedy Festival to go ahead - on BBC Radio Wales and BBC Sounds". BBC Media Centre. BBC. 2020-04-21. Archived from the original on 2023-04-19. Retrieved 2025-06-27. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Return of the Mach... virtually". Chortle. 2020-04-21. Archived from the original on 2021-02-26. Retrieved 2025-06-27. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Coronavirus: Machynlleth Comedy Festival plans to keep people laughing". BBC News. 2020-05-01. Archived from the original on 2022-08-20. Retrieved 2025-06-10. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Sheehan, Rory (2021-04-18). "Machynlleth Comedy Festival announce live BBC recordings". Powys County Times. Newsquest Media Group. Archived from the original on 2021-04-18. Retrieved 2025-06-27. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "The Machynlleth Comedy Festival". British Comedy Guide. Archived from the original on 2025-06-27. Retrieved 2025-06-27. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Little Wander (2024-05-04). "Corris Railway". Machynlleth Comedy Festival. Archived from the original on 2025-07-22. Retrieved 2025-07-22. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Simms, John (2019-05-07). "Progress With The Revival Of The Corris Railway". Rheilffordd Corris Railway. Corris Railway Society. Archived from the original on 2020-10-23. Retrieved 2025-07-22. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Sears, Esyllt (2024-05-07). "Leroy Brito and Corris Railway Comedy Gig". Comedy Club at Machynlleth. Episode 4. Machynlleth: BBC. BBC Radio 4 Extra. Archived from the original on 2025-07-22. Retrieved 2025-07-22. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Elfyn, Bethan (2010-04-27). "Review: Machynlleth Comedy Festival". BBC Wales Music. BBC Cymru Wales. Archived from the original on 2025-06-07. Retrieved 2025-06-07. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Kettle, James (2011-04-22). "This week's new comedy". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2020-12-04. Retrieved 2025-06-27. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help)
Further reading
- Berrow, Hari (2025-04-08). "Who's on the comedy festival circuit this summer (and where to find them online)". Buzz Magazine. Wales. Archived from the original on 2025-04-08. Retrieved 2025-06-07. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - "Gŵyl Gomedi Machynlleth yn 'un o'r gŵyliau comedi pwysicaf' ym Mhrydain" [Machynlleth Comedy Festival is 'one of the most important comedy festivals' in Britain]. Newyddion S4C (in Cymraeg). S4C. 2023-04-29. Archived from the original on 2024-06-17. Retrieved 2025-06-19. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - Kettle, James (2014-05-02). "Machynlleth Comedy Festival special". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2015-10-15. Retrieved 2025-06-19. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - McNicholls Vale, Julie (2023-04-30). "Thousands descend on town for comedy festival". Cambrian News. Tindle Newspapers Ltd. Archived from the original on 2024-07-13. Retrieved 2025-06-07. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - Parker, Mike (2014-05-10). "Mach Five". Planet. Archived from the original on 2024-11-09. Retrieved 2025-06-19. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - Price, Josh (2022-04-23). "Powys town festival 'built for the comedy purist' says co-founder". Powys County Times. Newsquest Media Group. Archived from the original on 2024-02-07. Retrieved 2025-06-12. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - Price, Josh (2023-12-12). "Powys comedy festival to showcase talent for Channel 4". Powys County Times. Newsquest Media Group. Archived from the original on 2023-12-17. Retrieved 2025-06-07. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - Price, Josh (2024-05-06). "Standout events from the 2024 Machynlleth Comedy Festival". Powys County Times. Newsquest Media Group. Archived from the original on 2024-06-22. Retrieved 2025-06-07. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - Saunders, Tristram Fane (2023-05-03). "Inside the 'secret' comedy festival where Stewart Lee and Nish Kumar 'make a mess'". The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Archived from the original on 2023-05-04. Retrieved 2025-06-09. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - Silk, Huw (2016-04-30). "Why a festival in a small town in mid Wales is attracting some of Britain's favourite comics". WalesOnline. Media Wales (Reach plc). Archived from the original on 2025-06-07. Retrieved 2025-06-07. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - "Wales' thriving events scene contributing to the Welsh economy" (Press release). Welsh Government. 2017-05-12. Archived from the original on 2025-04-18. Retrieved 2025-06-07. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - Welsh Government (2014-09-26). "Welsh Government evidence to Enterprise & Business Committee: Inquiry into Tourism" (PDF). Senedd Business. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-06-15. Retrieved 2025-06-15.
7.9 Going forward we are also continuing to support a thriving portfolio of arts and cultural events including Machynlleth Comedy Festival, Beyond the Border Storytelling Festival, Iris Festival Prize; Hay Festival and Festival No6.
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BBC
- Heard, Daniel (2020-05-02). "Coronavirus: Businesses count the cost of cancelled events". BBC News. Archived from the original on 2025-05-03. Retrieved 2025-06-09. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - "Machynlleth's new comedy festival". Mid Wales. BBC News. 2010-03-03. Archived from the original on 2021-02-26. Retrieved 2025-06-09. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - "Machynlleth Comedy Festival: 2,000 expected in fourth year". BBC News. 2012-05-05. Archived from the original on 2012-05-09. Retrieved 2025-06-07. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - "Machynlleth Comedy Festival: 4,000 expected in fifth year". BBC News. 2014-05-02. Archived from the original on 2025-06-07. Retrieved 2025-06-07. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help)
machcomedyfest.co.uk (WP:SELFPUB)
- Little Wander. "Our supporters". Machynlleth Comedy Festival. Archived from the original on 2025-04-18. Retrieved 2025-06-07. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - Little Wander. "The Mach Arena". Machynlleth Comedy Festival. Archived from the original on 2025-04-18. Retrieved 2025-06-09. Unknown parameter
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External links
 |
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