THE organisers of a popular Machynlleth comedy festival have urged people to back the arts post-Covid-19.

Machynlleth Comedy Festival was due to take place during the first week of May, but has since moved to radio with the physical event unable to take place.

Despite the festival finding an alternative to a physical show, the organisers say the coronavirus pandemic has proven to be costly for themselves and other events.

In a statement on Twitter, explained the work that goes into setting up the festival.

"There is an assumption sometimes that festivals will be fine, probably because they're only visible and physical for a few days a year, and you don't necessarily see the work that goes into them to make them happen," they said.

"We start planning Machynlleth Comedy Festival over a year in advance, so before Mach 2019 took place we were already putting in place certain aspects of 2020.

"Cancelling Mach 2020 represented over a years worth of lost work and the associated salaries.

"In addition, the previous years event effectively primes the pump to work towards the following years event before you can start selling tickets.

"Take it from people who know, comedy festivals are not going to come out of this in any better shape than the rest of the comedy industry."

Despite the cancellation, the organisers say they are proud to have run such an event.

"As an organisation that runs gigs, tours and festivals we understand that the comedy scene in this country is multifaceted," they added.

"That each aspect is as important as the other, and that it is an interconnected web that runs from your first 5 minutes through to your appearance on TV or your stadium tour.

"We started Machynlleth as a direct result of feeling like we didn't have a home in the industry.

"We created our own version of that home that looked to shelter and champion voices that felt like ours, whom for a lot of the year may also feel that they don't quite fit.

"It is important to recognise what each aspect of live comedy brings to the table and how different people can find different places around that table."

The organisers also hope that they are able to continue in the future.

"We are immensely proud of what we've achieved and sincerely hope we get to carry on," they added.

"Many acts over the years, some who are now household names, have expressed how they would have quit comedy without having Machynlleth in their diary each year.

"One established alternative comedian informed us that they made more from their one Mach show in 2019 than the rest of their tour combined.

"Hundreds of freelancers have developed skills at Mach and gone on to find roles in the industry as a result.

"We implore everyone to help us save this industry, and to understand that every aspect of it is under threat right now.

"Be in no doubt that whilst we are doing everything we possibly can to be back in all your lives the entire live comedy sector is under threat, including us."