Stand Up for Grass Roots Rugby

Stand Up for Grass Roots Rugby!

Join us for a night of hilarious comedy at The Phoenix Theatre, Ton Pentre to help raise funds for Ystrad Rhondda RFC Mini and Junior sections featuring some of the best comedians Wales has to offer. 

A great local night out with all profits going to the Under 7s to Under 16s teams to help them fund the 2024/2025 season ahead. 

Acts on the night will be: 

MATT REES

Multi-award-winning Welsh comedian, Matt Rees, has generated a huge buzz on the circuit over the past few years with his unique brand of well-crafted gags and acerbic delivery earning him high praise from audiences and critics alike.

"A properly original comedy mind"
The Guardian 

As well as starring in BBC3’s This Country and BBC’s Edinburgh Fringe Highlights, Matt has also recorded an episode of BBC2’s Stand Up at BBC Wales, Amazon’s Audible Presents and Stand Up For BBC Radio Wales.

Matt also made his hotly anticipated debut solo show at The Edinburgh Fringe in 2018 at The Pleasance with Happy Hour, a humorous approach to his alcoholism and his everyday life.

The rising star has won a whole host of awards including Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year, Leicester Square Comedian of The Year, Welsh Unsigned Act of The Year and Loaded LAFTAs, as well as being nominated for Chortle Best Newcomer.

Matt works across the board of the top UK clubs, such as The Comedy Store, Glee Club and The 99 Club and has also performed at the leading comedy/music festivals such as Latitude, Reading, Leeds, Green Man and the fantastically off-beat Welsh festival, Machynlleth Comedy Fest. Also, Matt has provided tour support for the likes of Joe Lycett, John Robins, Elis James, Patrick Kielty as well as Tig Notaro. 

 “Comedian to watch" 
The Times

“Rees' phlegmatic, hangdog delivery belies a phenomenally high gag rate. And as he draws each of his routines to a close with a swerve of deft wordplay there is a surprising feeling of the pacey rhythm more familiar in a one-liner show. He has an eye for the bizarre and for darkness. Rees can tell a story or create a world in a sentence.”

The Skinny

"A gem in the form of a laconic youngster with an instinctive comedic talent"
Metro

"Matt's writing was a stand out. Apparently casual asides spin out into fresh routines" 
Chortle

"Quite brilliant. I’d love to see more of this comic."
Kate Copstick, The Scotsman

ELERI MORGAN

Funny, charming and a little bit manic, Eleri is a regular writer/contributor for BBC SESH, BBC WALES, BBC CYMRU and S4C and has performed at gigs throughout the UK, including the Edinburgh Fringe and Mach Comedy Festival. She is a series regular in the 2nd series of the improvised sitcom ‘Tourist Trap’ on BBC One Wales.

“A force of nature and a full throttled idiot” – Logan Murray

PAUL JAMES

Once described as what would happen if Tim Vine hadn’t found God, Paul delivers a set that has the audience reeling from the first joke to the last. His high laugh rate has made him a hit with comedy club, art centre, theatre and university crowds up and down the UK and Ireland.

He has a warm and laid back style, which together with an ever-present glint in his eye puts an audience at ease, even if they feel just a little naughty afterwards. In the appropriate environment he can make an audience feel VERY naughty. Paul unashamedly enjoys what he does and has won several minor competitions he hadn’t realised he’d entered or feels the need to put after his name.

 He has a down to earth accessibility that wins crowds over everywhere and he is not afraid to interrupt his stream of gags and one liners to dip into the crowd to extract every last drop of fun.

Paul has built up a cult fan base in his native Wales where he established and regularly MC’s the outlandish and acclaimed Clown’s Pocket comedy club.

"An absolute Legend worthy of headline status" - Rob Halden :West Mids Comedian of the Year 2009/ Promoter

“Paul is a cracking act. Some of the best written one-liners I've heard for a while and an open delivery which warms him to the audience” - Juice Comedy

“One of the most promising comics in Wales, Paul weaves the dark and dirty into comedy gold... A solid gagsmith who is getting bigger and bigger.” - Laughing Mic Comedy

“Paul’s like Jimmy Carr with a winning Welsh way ...... the funniest man in Wales”. - Anon the Poet: Comedian/Promoter

“He is a fine act, very funny, good material. Worth booking. Talented bastard!!!” - Rob C: Comedian/promoter

Get your tickets for this great night out and worthy cause while they last!

Children aged 14+ are welcome with the supervision of a responsible adult