Machynlleth Comedy Festival - Preview interview

The Machynlleth Comedy Festival in west Wales (this year: 3rd - 5th May 2013) is fast becoming known as one of the best places in the year for comedy lovers to see stand-up, thanks to its carefully selected shows and lovely atmosphere. We ask founder Henry Widdicombe (pictured) a few questions below:

Hi Henry. You founded the Machynlleth Comedy Festival a few years ago. What were your motivations?

Hi. Well, I guess the initial motivation was to put on my favourite comedians in one of my favourite places, and to a large extent that hasn't really changed.

Why did you opt to base things around Machynlleth?

Well, it's an incredible place. It's packed with historic and interesting rooms we can put comedy into, it's a really vibrant community and the surroundings are absolutely breath-taking. It's really easy to get to on the train, but also it's far enough away for people to really have to want to make the commitment to travel to the event. I kind of like that.

Ace. So, brilliant line-up again this year. Are there any shows you're personally looking forward to checking out?

I get asked this every year, and seeing as I put together the line-up it's pretty much everything. We're obviously really pleased to welcome Tim Key, Rob Newman, Mark Thomas and David O'Doherty to the festival for the first time, all of which have been on our wanted list since year one.

If I do get a chance to see stuff, I usually like to jump into the smaller shows and newer acts that I'm less familiar with. Anna Freyburg, Jenny Fawcett and Tinshed Theatre are all acts I'm going to try and see this year, but I don't tend to attend much due to working.

You also perform stand-up yourself - does that put you in the best position for helping to choose who is booked for the festival?

I think it just gives a different perspective to the booking process. We don't tend to book on reputation and stature, but more it's because we've seen them and liked what they're doing currently.

Your brother (Josh Widdicombe) is fast becoming a big TV star - any sibling rivalry or jealousy there?

Haha! No, not at all. It's brilliant he's doing so well. The only downside is that he's incredibly hard to book these days.

Although I love comedy and do all-sorts within it, performing stand-up myself is not something I ever wanted to make my career. I wanted it to be something I did for fun, rather than for a living.

Back to the festival - is it true that one problem people tend to have with Machynlleth, the town, is that accommodation is hard to find during the festival? For anyone reading this now a fortnight before the festival starts, is there still room for them to turn up?

Of course! There are a surprising amount of options available to be honest. Although the hotels and B&B's do tend to fill up quickly, the surrounding communities tend to have availability.

We have incredibly cheap camping in the town, £12 for the whole weekend, or if you want a bit of style we've got yurts available with wood burners!

The last train to Aberystwyth is after 11pm each night and so you can stay by the seaside at either Borth or Aberystwyth and still do full days at the festival, plus you get to swim in the sea.

It's actually even possible to get the morning train from Euston, enjoy a few shows, and head back the same day, all for just over £40 (if booked in advance). Day trips on the train from Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham are all very easy too.

Brilliant stuff. For those that can't attend, is there any way they can still get comedy from the festival?

Well, the festival was built around the principal that you have to be there to experience it, and it's about the joy of experiencing live comedy. However, having said that, we're extremely pleased to work with Radio 4 Extra and Radio Wales to produce a 30 minute showcase programme each year. It works really well, and we have a large input into the way it's put together. Plus the Radio 4 Extra Comedy Club broadcasts from the festival for the entire weekend which is really great fun.

The festival has been growing for a few years now - do you think it has room to get bigger still, or is this now its maximum 'capacity'?

We've got a little more room. You're right that it will have a natural capacity due to being held in the tiny town of Machynlleth, but it was never meant to be massive, as we feel that helps to keep it special.

However, not a year goes by without another local enquiring whether we'd like to see their back room or basement, and we unearth another beautiful venue space. For instance, this year we're using a 16th century basement complete with original drainage pipes on display.

Wow. Well, thanks for all your time Henry. Final question - Have you dared look at the long-range weather forecast yet?

We're of the philosophy that the weather will be the weather, especially in mid-Wales. We've had it lovely for 3 years now and the long range forecast has always predicted rain, and anyway, if it does rain it just gives people an excuse to frequent the wonderful pubs and cafes in the town, as well as maybe a few more shows.

The Machynlleth Comedy Festival takes place each year on the first bank holiday in May. Find out more about visiting the festival and see the great line-up at machcomedyfest.co.uk