Comedy Club of Love - April 2024

Out of the ashes of Merthyr Comedy Festival comes The Comedy Club of Love!

Join regular host Drew Taylor at Merthyr Labour Club for The Comedy Club of Love where he will be introducing the cream of the U.K. Comedy circuit. 

JARRED CHRISTMAS

COMEDIAN, WRITER, TV & RADIO PRESENTER, IMPROVISER AND ACTOR
‘BEST CHILDREN’S SHOW’ NOMINEE – LEICESTER COMEDY FESTIVAL 2023 & 2017
‘BEST COMPERE’ – CHORTLE AWARDS 2016

New Zealand Sensation Jarred Christmas is one of the most innovative and exciting stand-ups on the UK circuit. A sought-after headliner famed for his quick-witted spontaneity, masterful skills of improvisation and energetic storytelling; Jarred is a regular at the Edinburgh Festival, and at comedy clubs and International festivals around the globe. He is a regular team member at The Comedy Store’s weekly topical show The Cutting Edge and was recently named Best Compere at the 2016 Chortle Awards; scooping the title for the second time.

A dynamic onstage persona combined with the ability to improvise with anything that’s thrown his way makes Jarred’s comedy sizzle with originality. Early in his career he supported both Ross Noble and Tommy Tiernan on UK tours. He has since written and performed in countless shows at the Edinburgh Festival and has toured the UK in his own right with his solo shows Jarred Christmas Stands Up and Let’s Go Mofo. He has played to packed theatres across the UK, twice hosting the All Star Stand Up Tour - a  show featuring a world-class line-up of comedians.  Jarred returned to the Edinburgh Festival this year, with a brand new solo stand-up show 'Silly Billy'.

Combining his superlative improv and stand-up comedy skills (not to mention vocal agility), Jarred has recently developed The Mighty Beatbox Gameshow and a child-friendly version The Mighty Kids Beatbox Gameshow which he hosts alongside acclaimed beatboxer Hobbit. The show has played at festivals around the UK including Edinburgh and the Leicester Comedy Festival. The family version of the show was recently nominated for ‘Best Children’s Show’ at the Leicester Comedy Festival.

Since arriving in the UK, Jarred has amassed extensive TV experience, appearing on Mock The Week (BBC2), Never Mind the Buzzcocks (BBC2) 8 out of 10 Cats, (Channel 4), and Argumental (Dave). He recently hosted BBC NI’s series Monumental, taking the reins from Adam Hills in the hit panel show celebrating the great and peculiar side of Northern Ireland. As a stand-up, he has appeared on The Comedy Store, Edinburgh & Beyond, Comedy Blue and The World Stands-Up (Comedy Central), as well as One Night Stand (Dave) and Russell Howard’s Good News (BBC Three).  He’s also been a regular on the airwaves; co-hosting The Rhod Gilbert Show (BBC Radio Wales), guesting on Act Your Age (Radio 4), Jest A Minute (BBC Radio Wales), Spanking New (BBC Radio 7) and Flight of the Conchords (Radio 2) to name but a few.

Jarred is an accomplished actor, working with Warwick Davies both on stage and in the web series, Dwarves Assemble. A highly versatile performer, with tremendous energy and exuberance, he has also amassed several successful stage performances in Panto. He first appeared in 2012, playing Herman The Henchman alongside Priscilla Presley as The Wicked Queen in Snow White at The New Wimbledon Theatre. Following a successful debut, he returned to the same theatre in 2015 to star in Peter Pan taking the lead comedy role of Smee, alongside Verne Troyer and Marcus Brigstocke. He has played Buttons in Cinderella working the crowd with “hurricane enthusiasm” (Telegraph), alongside Torville and Dean at the Bristol Hippodrome. For the past two years he has played the main comedy lead in panto at Leicester's De Montfort Hall and he returns to the same venue again this year to play in Jack and the Beanstalk. Back on TV, Jarred has guest-starred in Hollyoaks Later, Jonathan Creek, and Up The Women.

Check out Jarred on Comedy Central here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NurQtpa590E

JENNY COLLIER

The proudly Welsh Jenny Collier is a multi-award winning stand up comedian, writer and actor. An established regular on the international club and festival circuit, Jenny has supported Jason Manford, Arthur Smith, Shappi Khorsandi and Dave Johns on their UK tours and has performed in Hong Kong, the Philippines, Singapore, Switzerland and Australia where she won the Percy Award during the Adelaide Fringe. 
The sharp tongued, multi-lingual Jenny has mastered the art of deftly welcoming her audiences into a false sense of security with her lilting Welsh twang, before taking a dramatic U-turn with her outrageously raw punchlines. She leaves audiences squirming in their seats, head in hands and always wanting more. Her perfectly crafted, confident and in command performances are a favourite at clubs and festivals everywhere. An unapologetically bold, brilliant and seriously talented rising star. 
Jenny has appeared on The Rhod Gilbert Show (BBC Wales), New Comedian of the Year Award (BBC Radio 4 Extra), The Comedy Club (BBC Radio 4 Extra), What’s The Story (BBC Wales), Newsbeat (BBC Radio 1), The Leak (BBC Wales) and has written for BBC Radio 4's The News Quiz, The Now Show, Huffington Post and Glamour Magazine.
Awards:
Winner The Percy Award, Adelaide Fringe 2016
Winner Comedy Ashes Adelaide 2016
Honourable Mention Dave's Best Joke of the Fringe 2015
Winner Comedy Ashes Adelaide 2015
Winner Hobgoblin Comedy Award 2015
2nd Place NATYS 2015
Winner Laughing Horse New Act Competition 2014
Finalist Leicester Square New Act Competition 2014
Semi finalist Montreux Comedy Contest 2014
Finalist So You Think You're Funny 2013
Semi finalist Amused Moose Laugh Off 2013 
Finalist Comedy Knights New Act Competition 2013
Finalist Fight for the Funny 2013
★★★★★ ‘An Excellent comedic work’ - Edfest Mag
★★★★ ‘Surprising edge’- Shortcom.co.uk
★★★★ ‘Refreshingly original...Excellent’ - Broadway Baby
★★★★ ‘Fast-paced wit...Quick and clever’ - theupcoming.co.uk
‘Clearly a rising star' - Bruce Dessau
‘One to watch’ - Edinburgh Evening News
‘Ace... Strong set... Strong persona’ - London is Funny

Check out Jenny on the Lateish Show here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7Ucz0HEHYA&t=1s

Support on the night comes from ALF - check him out on BGT here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bThlJeU50o0

Hosted by Drew Taylor

tickets are £10 online, £15 on the door.