A trio from Gwynedd are getting ready to make people laugh with some stand-up comedy.

Arwel Phillips, deputy head director of the Urdd’s Glanllyn centre, near Bala, will swap his hiking boots for a microphone after taking up stand-up comedy just two years ago.

He will perform his observational comedy as part of the free-to-attend fringe events at the North Wales International Music Festival in St Asaph.

The 46-year-old decided to give stand-up a go after returning from a walking trip with friends.

His first attempt went well but “could have been better”, prompting him to enrol in comedy classes run by Kiri Pritchard McLean and Kate Gill.

Arwel said his routine is “about the mundane and trivial things of life which people will find funny".

He joins fellow stand-ups Gethin Evans and Caryl Burke at the New Inn, St Asaph at 9.30pm on 18 September. 

Assistant producer Caryl from Porthmadog works for Cwmni Da in Caernarfon and has been doing stand-up for about four years.

Known for her sharp observational style Caryl has gigged all over Wales, the North-west of England and London.

She said: "It's different doing stand-up before an audience in Welsh. I write in Welsh and have to adapt it in English because it doesn't always translate properly.

"The routine at the New Inn will be new and in English and I'm looking forward to it."

Fellow stand-up Gethin from Caernarfon is also the drummer with the popular Band Pres Llareggub and works for the NHS, digitising patient details.

The 46-year old started stand-up during the pandemic.

Festival Artistic director, Paul Mealor, said the free fringe events were introduced two years ago and proved to be very successful.

He said: “It’s a crucial part of the festival because it attracts a different audience and it’s bringing people to the festival who might not otherwise come.”