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“I tried rowing one time, turned up late, was immediately embarrassed, cycled home in the rain, got hit by a pigeon and fell in a bush – the beginning of the Cambridge dream,” says Rhys Griffiths (English 2021).

Rhys performs as a stand-up comedian and is Master of Ceremonies of 91ֱ�� Open Mic, which takes place fortnightly on Sundays at Harvey Court – next on this week (February 12; see ). His comedy is based on his own experiences and observations, many of which are relatable.

He says: “I talk about a lot of things that have happened to me. And I’m a clean comedian. I think swearing is too easy to claim a laugh. It’s nice to try to work for it.”

He has a Cambridge set about his rowing experiences, fearful respect of pensioners and discusses a summer working as a carpenter.

The Welsh language speaker began performing stand up in Cambridge, but he has also performed at open mic shows in Cardiff and the surrounding area.

“When they introduce me as ‘Cambridge comedian’ you can tell what the audience are thinking…” he says.

Rhys, though, has a charisma which could charm almost any audience. He is also ambitious.

He took part in the debating society at Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Morgannwg, his state comprehensive school in Barry, south Wales. His first visit to Cambridge was for a school debating competition.

Rhys says: “I did a bit of public speaking in school and I always secretly wanted it to be a stand-up set. That was helpful in being comfortable in front of a crowd.” 

The visit encouraged Rhys to apply to Cambridge, and he is hoping to apply to the Footlights, whose alumni include household names across television and film. Rhys is seeking to join them when he becomes a finalist – the point of membership – and has performed in informal events and at the Edinburgh Fringe with the group.

“The opportunity to be part of a society which already has a grounding in British comedy is a privilege,” he says.

“The Footlights do gigs for freshers and I found it a lot of fun and wanted to do some more. I’d never done stand-up at all in any capacity before I came here. I was excited to give it a go.

“I write relentlessly. I have a full script which takes a week to write and a week to learn and hone. And it will evolve.”

Rhys enjoys the variety of performing opportunities at Cambridge. He appeared in Twelfth Night last term and is appearing in Taming of the Shrew this term, when he is also writing and performing in two original sketch shows.

He adapts his comedy script with his daily experiences.

“You’ll have a supervision about something and pop it into your set, like if Jerry Seinfeld was concerned with literary theory,” he adds.

“The people in Cambridge are a comic’s dream. There are some characters out there.”

Main picture: Rhys with 91ֱ�� Open Mic co-founder Jacob Carey. For more on .