Jarred Christmas and Alfie Moore – Comedy Hut, The Mitre.

KIWI Jarred Christmas rocked the upstairs room at The Mitre on Saturday night, as the closing act of Stourbridge Comedy Hut Festival 2013.

The successful event, in its second year, managed to sell out Moochers Jailhouse, Stourbridge Football Club and home venue The Mitre over three nights.

And it was easy to see why with the quality of acts appearing, the likes of Lucy Porter, Katherine Ryan and Joe Lycett all on the various bills.

Although the atmosphere was stifling and hot on Saturday, Christmas still managed to produce a high octane performance, to the point where he didn’t need a microphone to get his jokes across, even to the people listening on the sidewalk outside the venue.

Christmas, resplendent with a new beard, has appeared in television shows from Mock the Week to Celebrity Mastermind but it is clear that stand up, and working a crowd, is what he is most comfortable with and he also had some loyal followers in the audience.

He engaged the whole crowd by getting individuals to ask him questions which gave him original material and made for an enjoyable, if sweaty night.

Earlier on, Alfie Moore did a pre-Edinburgh showcase of his Viva Alf's Vegas show.

The serving police officer relies on a more observational and laid back comedy than Christmas and some of his anecdotes about being in the force, and the main subject of his father, hit the mark well.

It was the second successive night of comedy at The Mitre, with a free late night show on the Friday featuring Australian Mickey D and Carey Marx, both of whom impressed, as did returning host Ben Briggs.

Overall, the Comedy Festival was a great success, attracting new and existing fans, and it can only bode well for the regular Comedy Hut Nights which are held at the Mitre every month, the next one being on Wednesday August 14 when Nathan Caton headlines.

For details on all Comedy Hut events, go to www.comedyhut.org.