Laughter Lights Up Clarence Hall
Posted: 4th February 2025This weekend, the Black Mountains Comedy Festival returned for its fourth year, filling the Clarence Hall with laughter and warmth. From Thursday, 30 January to Saturday, 1 February, comedy lovers from near and far gathered to enjoy a vibrant mix of emerging talent and seasoned comedians, all set against the stunning backdrop of the Black Mountains.
This year’s festival delivered an eclectic lineup, featuring everything from sharp satire to surreal absurdity. A major highlight was the first-ever Noson Comedi Cymraeg, held at Treebeards Bar in the High Street, which celebrated Welsh-language comedy and culture.
At the Clarence Hall, comedy fans were treated to headline performances from Ignacio Lopez and Angela Barnes, with the ever-popular Ross Smith hosting a fabulous evening of entertainment on Saturday. Friday’s Fringe event saw Huw Davies MC an outstanding array of exciting talent, including Leroy Brito, Eleri Morgan, Josh Elton and Rob Hughes.
Adding a heartwarming dimension to the weekend, the festival’s family-friendly show, created in collaboration with the Kitsch n Sync Collective, brought joy beyond the theatre stage. Following Saturday’s matinee, this unique performance will now tour local care homes, bringing joy to residents in a pioneering project that focuses on improving the wellbeing of people with dementia.
Our huge thanks go to the organisers, volunteers and technical staff, all of whom worked tirelessly behind the scenes to create this celebration of creativity and connection.
To everyone who came along, performed, or helped behind the scenes — diolch yn fawr! Here’s to another year of live performances in the Black Mountains.