Neath Comedy Festival 2012

The NEATH COMEDY FESTIVAL is in its third year and 2012 promises to be the best line-up yet. This summer, Neath is set to be invaded by some of the planet’s finest comics, including ‘Celebrity Juice’s’ RUFUS HOUND, cult comedy legend and star of ‘The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer’ CHARLIE CHUCK and ITV1′s ‘Show Me the Funny’ Runner-Up DAN MITCHELL.

The invasion takes place at THE DUKE, home of the highly-acclaimed CLOWN’S POCKET COMEDY CLUB, at 8pm on July 30th and climaxes in the ‘Grand Finale’ on August 2nd. Why not join us for the entire run of the all-headliner line up and save 50% on the ticket prices with a VIP Pass.

Here is a programme of the shows, for further details on these shows please see the events pages for each night.

MON 30th July – STEPHEN CARLIN previews his Edinburgh Festival show ‘Pandas Vs Penguins’.

DAN MITCHELL previews his Edinburgh Festival show ‘Free Egg’.

Doors 8pm, £6

TUES 31st July – Comedy Superstar RUFUS HOUND with support from the brilliant STUART BLACK.

Doors 8pm, £14

WED 1st Aug – NOEL JAMES debuts his brand new show ‘A Tour de Wales’.

Followed by the Ubermeister of Lounge FRANK SANAZI.

Doors 8pm, £6

Thurs 2nd Aug – The grand finale with the legendary CHARLIE CHUCK.

Followed by a NEATH COMEDY FESTIVAL favourite MUNDO JAZZ.

Doors 8pm, £6

Laconic Scots comic STEPHEN CARLIN brings us his third solo Edinburgh Festival show ‘Pandas Vs Penguins’.

Stephen was included in a showcase of ‘The Ten Best Stand-Ups in the World Ever’ by none other than the legendary Stewart Lee, who not only had Stephen appear on his BBC show ‘Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle’ but also had him as the support act for his national tour.

Stephen has also appeared on ITV’s ‘Comedy Cuts’ and Comedy Central’s ‘Edinburgh and Beyond’ as well as having supported Stephen Merchant on his national tour.

‘A cult favourite among fans of the sharper end of stand-up.”  - The Guardian

“Fast establishing himself as one of the most distinctive, and funniest, new comedians in Britain” – Steve Bennet: Chortle

Stephen Carlin: Pandas Vs Penguins

Are you a Panda or are you a Penguin? Perhaps you like the cold weather, hanging out in large groups, balancing round objects on your feet? Have you recently forgotten how to fly but are really good underwater? Then you may well be a Penguin. But perhaps that’s not you at all. Maybe you are the cute and “cuddly” type who prefers the indoors, loves to gorge on a limited diet and only has sex twice a year? Whatever your lifestyle choices, Stephen Carlin will unleash that inner Panda or Penguin within you.

Part II

Dan Mitchell is very funny Welsh comedian who came second in ITV’s ‘Show Me the Funny’ when millions voted after the live final in the Hammersmith Apollo. Since then we have had to share Welsh comedy’s best kept secret with the world, the bastards! National tours, TV shows and now his debut Edinburgh Festival solo show, but fair play to him we get to see it first at the NEATH COMEDY FESTIVAL before they do!

‘Absolutely brilliant’ – Ross Noble

‘A joy to watch’ – Bob Mortimer

‘Welcome to the world of Dan’ – Alan Davies

Dan Mitchell:Free Egg

When comedian Dan Mitchell is ill (proper ill, mind), nothing is right. The bed is too lumpy, the duvet is too hot and there’s a seagull outside his window paying mind games. He wants nothing more than to lie back watching squirrel movies, getting his brow mopped. But Dan’s internet is down and his brow remains unmopped, meaning he only has his imagination to entertain himself. Join Dan as his mind swiftly unravels in a comedy tale of sickness, paranoia, fate and above all, Free Egg.

Doors 8pm , £6,

The quality of comics at this year’s NEATH COMEDY FESTIVAL is incredibly high, yet the big draw of 2012 is undoubtedly RUFUS HOUND. We were lucky enough to feature Rufus in our regular monthly Clown’s Pocket gig in April 2011. That night the capacity crowd witnessed a bravura performance as he absolutely blew the doors off what he later described as his favourite ever gig to his 600,000 or so followers on Twitter.

Well he’s back. The star of ‘Celebrity Juice’, Dave’s ‘Argumental’, ‘Never Mind the Buzzcocks’, winner of ‘Sports Relief Let’s Dance’ and former presenter of Top of the Pops is ready to rock our comedy socks once again.

Despite having one of the busiest TV and Radio schedules, and most varied CVs, of anyone on the circuit, Rufus isn’t one to rest on his laurels and he’s never moved away from his first love of live stand-up, which he also happens to be supremely good at.

“The rich man’s Simon Pegg” – Stephen Fry

“Breathtakingly Funny” The Guardian

The support act for this show is himself established as a headline act at the best comedy clubs in the country. STUART BLACK’S social commentary is truthful and acerbic, delivered in a relaxed and conversational style. His stories start with observations and build into bizarre flights of fancy.

Stuart has appeared on Comedy Central’s ‘The World Stands Up’ and at the Adelaide, Melbourne and Edinburgh Comedy Festivals. Now he makes his bow at The Neath Comedy Festival!

‘His routines are something special… one to watch.’ Chortle

Doors 8.00pm, £14

NOEL JAMES is quite possibly one of the finest comedians Wales has ever produced. He is cited as the inspiration of many top comics on TV today. Noel has performed at comedy festivals the world over, including Montreal and Edinburgh and we are delighted that he has chosen to debut his brand new show with us at The Neath Comedy festival 2012.

Noel James: A Tour de Wales

Noel James, a Welsh man, talks about a subject close to his feet: his own country!

When he was a boy he lost his heart in Llansantffraidglanconwy, since then he’s been cruising the valleys looking for inspiration. He once spent the night on Cader Idris, that’s when when it hit him: Ross-On-Wye is Welsh for Stocking-On-Egg!

Oh yes he’s found out many things. Take a deTour past his show and you too will be enlightened; all original stuff co-written by Noel’s adventurous uncle Llyn Brianna Jones. Not since God talked to Moses have such revelations come to pass

“Stands out like a droll giant in a comedy land of trite dwarfs” – The Independent

….And now for something completely different, next up is the very funny but often controversial Frank Sanazi, The Ubermeister of comedy brings a New Order and discipline to the usually more relaxed comedy scene. A regular at the top comedy and cabaret clubs throughout the UK and Europe, Frank has also performed at Glastonbury and The Edinburgh Festival and has appeared in many others like Latitude and Bestival.

‘For a truly funny Fuhrer, seek out Frank Sanazi’s brilliant Hitler/Sinatra hybrid’ – The Stage

‘Comedy gold’ – Evening Standard

‘We promise you’ll never, ever have seen anything quite like it. Resistance is futile! ‘
- Roar with Laughter

Doors 8pm, £6

The word ‘legend’ is often overused in comedy, but is unquestionably justified when used to describe the surreally manic comedy cult hero that is CHARLIE CHUCK.

After early appearances on Jools Holland’s show, Keith Chegwin’s ‘Star Search’ and ‘The James Whale Show’ in the 80′s his career really took off when he became a cast member of the BBC Two TV series ‘The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer’ during the mid 90′s. He appeared performing his Charlie Chuck act, but was always referred to on-screen as ‘Uncle Peter’.

His varried career has included drumming for ‘The Small faces’, performing in both solo and ensemble Edinburgh Festival shows, appearing as his Charlie Chuck character in a series of TV ads for Cadbury’s Double Decker chocolate bars and performing at Paul Macartney’s birthday party as the singer is a big fan of Charlie’s comedy.

An indescribable treat – Scotland on Sunday

Charlie Chuck is a real genius lunatic – Loaded

‘Charlie Chuck won’t hurt you, he’s great’ – Paul McCartney

Bringing down the curtain on THE NEATH COMEDY FESTIVAL 2012 is MUNDO JAZZ. This is one of the funniest acts anywhere, Mundo has headlined all the top clubs in the UK and beyond and not only performed in all the biggest comedy festivals but also at Glastonbury, Reading and other major music festivals.

After storming our festival last year he is back by popular demand. Brilliant.

“Mundo Jazz combines genuinely thrilling harmonies and killer songs with side-splitting gags. His solution to Third World debt is the best joke I’ve ever heard. Period.” – The Times

Doors 8pm, £6