This month S4C will be taking part in the Craft of Comedy Writing Conference at Venue Cymru, Llandudno.
On 22 February the one-day conference presented by Venue Cymru & Giddy Goat Productions Ltd will boast a range of speakers including S4C’s Digital Manager Huw Marshall, who also happens to be an actor and stand-up comedian.
At 3.00 on Saturday Huw, who’s experienced on both sides of the camera, will be co-hosting a Welsh-language session with the producer of the Sky 1 series Yonderland, and former Head of Comedy at ITV, Sioned Wiliam.
In the session, Welsh Comedy in Wales - option and opportunities, Huw and Sioned will discuss developing, writing and performing comedy in a Welsh-language context.
“Comedy is an important part of any culture, but there’s an added challenge in Wales to try and encourage people to create content in Welsh,” says Huw. “Because of the commercial opportunities people think that writing in English is the future. So how can we ensure that the tradition of performing comedy in Welsh carries on? Is it time to re-vamp Welsh stand up? Are there opportunities within the digital world? I hope that Sioned and I will be able to answer some of these questions and ask many more.”
S4C is taking part in the conference as part of the Channel’s aim to develop new writing talents in Wales and to discover talent that’s already out there and help get their funny stuff on the screen.
The day will feature a list of guest speakers who will share their knowledge and expertise on how to break into the comedy writing business and for those who are already writing, how to get that big break.
Along with Huw Marshall and Sioned Wiliam, the other speakers confirmed include Andrea Mann, editor of Huffington Post Comedy UK, Caroline Raphael, Commissioning Editor of comedy and fiction for BBC Radio 4 and David Nobbs, writer of The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin.
For more information about the event visit www.venuecymru.co.uk
