Comedian. Writer. Craft Enthusiast.
Razor sharp, daring and downright lascivious, Rhys Nicholson is a wit quickly gaining international acclaim.
After winning Best Newcomer at Sydney Comedy Festival in 2012, Rhys has gone on to perform all over the world, including Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Dublin’s Vodafone Comedy Festival and London’s prestigious SOHO Theatre, garnering audience and critical praise. They also quite liked his nice jackets.
It’s been a huge few years for Rhys, his most recent solo show Seminal has had great success both in Australia and overseas taking out the Best International Show Award at the 2018 New Zealand International Comedy Festival, as well as being nominated for the Helpmann Awards’ Best Comedy Performer of 2018. This was after a tremendous 2017 in which Rhys picked up an ARIA nomination for Best Comedy Release for his filmed special ‘Live at Darlinghurst Theatre’. Rhys has also received a nomination for the illustrious Barry Award for his 2016 show ‘Bona Fide’.
Aside from gaining huge acclaim for his solo shows, Rhys publicly married lesbian and fellow comedian Zoe Coombs Marr at the 2016 Melbourne International Comedy Festival to highlight the importance of marriage equality in Australia. He was also the subject of an Archibald Prize finalist by Melissa Ritchie entitled ‘Rhys Smart Mouth’.
Rhys has plastered his jagged face all over Australian TV – chatting candidly to then Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull about red heads (and other things) on Ch10’s The Project, has been a panellist on Hughesy, We Have A Problem, and on the comedy show CRAM, as well as Ch9’s Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation. He was co-host with Joel Creasey on ABCTV’s celebrated documentary GayCrashers, appeared on Dirty Laundry Live, and on Ch7’s Morning Show Style Squad as well as Orange Is The New Brown. Rhys has also performed stand up on Melbourne International Comedy Festival Oxfam Gala for the last 3 years running (Network 10 and ABC), ABC2’s Comedy Up Late, JFL Stand Up Series and The Sydney Comedy Festival Gala. Rhys has also hit TV screens overseas appearing on the New Zealand Panel Show 7 Days and early in 2018 filmed a comedy special in front of a live audience in London for the BBC.
Back home he is a fixture in the Australian comedy scene as a Sydney Comedy Store regular and headliner in clubs all over the country. Known within the industry for unrelenting, rapid fire punchlines, he has supported the likes of Amy Schumer (US), Kathy Griffin (US), Fiona O’loughlin and Wil Anderson.
And this is just the beginning…
Quotes
“Nicholson is an astute satirist of the world around him. Clever, a bit below-the-belt… blatantly very funny” **** SYDNEY MORNING HERALD 2015
“Evolving into an incisive wizard of stinging wit.”
SYDNEY MORNING HERALD 2014
Shows
Seminal (2018) Won Best International Show NZICF
I’m Fine (2017) Nominated Best Show NZICF
Bona Fide (2016) Nominated Barry Award MICF
Forward (2015) Nominated Best Show PCF
Eurgh (2014)
Dawn of a New Error (2013) Won Best Joke SCF
Almost A Person (2012) Won Best Newcomer SCF
Film & TV
ORANGE IS THE NEW BROWN – Channel 7
TALKIN’ ‘BOUT YOUR GENERATION – Channel 9
HUGHSEY, WE HAVE A PROBLEM – Channel 10
CRAM – Channel 10
THE PROJECT – Channel 10
GAYCRASHERS – ABCTV
7 DAYS – Three, New Zealand
JUST FOR LAUGHS STAND UP SERIES – Comedy Channel
SYDNEY COMEDY FESTIVAL CRACKER NIGHT – Comedy Channel
THE FEED – SBS
DIRTY LAUNDRY– ABCTV
COMEDY UP LATE 2014 & 2015 – ABC2
THE MORNING SHOW – STYLE SQUAD – Channel 7
HOUSOS VS AUTHORITY – Feature Film
MAKING FRIENDS WITH RHYS NICHOLSON – Webseries
JUST CAME OUT, BALLS OF STEEL – Series 1 & 2, Comedy Channel