BBC Radio Wales announces first time partnership with Machynlleth Comedy Festival
BBC Radio Wales today announce a brand new partnership with Machynlleth Comedy Festival with more programming than ever coming from the annual event.
Published: 6 March 2018
This year will see our largest amount of programming yet coming from the town during the weekend of the festival and lending our name to the largest venue on the festival site demonstrates BBC Radio Wales’ growing commitment to comedy in Wales.
The festival’s newest venue, the 500 seater Mach Arena, will this year be named The BBC Radio Wales Mach Arena.
Colin Paterson, Editor, BBC Radio Wales, says: “Radio Wales has been a long-term supporter of the festival, featuring the first festival on-air way back in 2010. This year will see our largest amount of programming yet coming from the town during the weekend of the festival and lending our name to the largest venue on the festival site demonstrates BBC Radio Wales’ growing commitment to comedy in Wales. It proves we’re very much in line with BBC Wales’ wider plans to develop Comedy on TV, Radio and Online over the next few years.”
Festival director, Henry Widdicombe says: “We’re thrilled to be strengthening our ties with BBC Radio Wales after years of working together at the Festival. It’s an exciting time for comedy in Wales and this is being driven by BBC Wales’ investment in talent and programming. We couldn’t think of a more suitable sponsorship partner for the BBC Radio Wales Mach Arena.”
Since 2012, Radio Wales has produced an annual stand-up comedy showcase featuring some of the best acts appearing at the festival. This has been produced for transmission both on Radio Wales and Radio 4 Extra.
BBC Radio Wales will host two shows from the Mach Arena over the festival weekend.
Rhod Gilbert will broadcast a special live edition of his Saturday morning show on 5 May from the BBC Radio Wales Mach Arena which will feature comedians appearing at the festival, along with live music performances in front of an audience.
On Sunday 6 May Anglesey’s Kiri Pritchard Mclean will host the Radio Wales Machynlleth Comedy Festival Showcase from the same venue that will see some of the biggest names from the festival performing a stand-up set. The show will be broadcast on BBC Radio Wales on Monday 7 May and BBC Radio 4 Extra the following week.
In addition Radio Wales’ topical news comedy show The Leak has the honour of being the first show being performed at this year’s festival. Early arrivers to Machynlleth will be able to attend a free recording of the programme at 4pm on Friday 4 May in The Tabernacle venue. On Saturday evening, Bethan Elfyn’s weekly music show will come live from the centre of the festival on the lawns outside the Mach Arena between 7-10pm.
SG
