Rhys Nicholson is a Multi-award winning Australian stand-up, writer, actor and collager.
With an enormous passion for live performing, their work continues to receive awards and accolades around the world. As well as numerous televised stand up performances in Australia, the UK and Canada, in early 2019 Rhys was hand picked to open for comedy legend Conan O’Brien on his Australian tour. A few months later this lead to Nicholson’s USA television debut as the stand up guest on CONAN (TBS). 2019 proved to be quite a big year for Rhys (which is lucky because 2020 and 2021 have been a bit of a nightmare) when in November they recorded their third stand up special. This time for Netflix worldwide, making Rhys one of only three Australians with a solo show on the streaming giant and earning them a nomination for Best Stand Up Comedy Special at the AACTA Awards in 2021.
Alongside a booming stand-up career, Nicholson is a favourite across our small screens. From panel shows to documentary and acting roles, he clearly doesn’t like to sit still very much. Over the years Rhys has had a whole bunch of guest and supporting roles in a plethora of sitcoms across networks and countries. Most recently being cast as a series regular in the Netflix Sci-Fi comedy The Imperfects to be released in 2022. Rhys was very excited about the fact they had a stunt double. You can also catch them on the judging panel of seasons 1 & 2 of RuPaul’s Drag Race Downunder
Not to let something like a devastating global health crisis from keeping them busy, the last couple years have seen Rhys continue to rise. From co-opening Melbourne’s newest live comedy venue, The Comedy Republic (Rhys cannot recommend you do that during a pandemic), to numerous acting roles and now setting their talents writing a book of essays, Nicholson is focused on continuing to work and diversify in the comedy industry they love so much.
2022 continues to raise the bar for Nicholson’s career where they hosted Melbourne International Comedy Festival All Stars Gala (ABCtv) & toured across Australia with brand new live stand- up show Rhys! Rhys! Rhys!. Rhys garnered multiple sold out seasons and won prestigious awards: Most Outstanding Show at Melbourne International Comedy Festival & Best of the Fest at Sydney Comedy Festival. Rhys will take this critically acclaimed show abroad where they will perform at the renowned and invite only Just For Laughs Montreal, followed by Edinburgh Fringe and more to come.
Awards
2016: Melbourne International Comedy Festival Best Show Award — Nominated
2017: ARIA Award for Best Comedy Album — Nominated
2018: New Zealand Comedy Festival Best International Act — Winner
2018: New Zealand Comedy Guild Award — Winner
2018: Helpmann Award for Best Comedy —Nominated
2019: Helpmann Award for Best Comedy —Nominated
2021: AACTA Awards for Best Stand-Up Comedy Special – Nominated
2022: Melbourne Comedy Festivals Most Outstanding Show – Winner
2022: Sydney Comedy Festivals Best of the Fest – Winner
Here are some nice things people have said about them:
“The Comedy Festival Show with the highest number of laughs per minute…Nicolson is an absolute master of the form” ★★★★★ TimeOut
“Rhys Nicholson is at the top of his game. His economy of words is at a Jerry Seinfeld-level, with more edge and less zeroes in his bank account.” ★★★★½ – Herald Sun
“The expertly delivered rat-a-tat joke rate never flags…how remarkable it is to see someone so entirely in command of their work and style ” ★★★★½ – The Age
“Sharp focus on punchlines that few could match” ★★★★ Chortle
“This is a genuinely great stand-up comedian at work – in total command of his material and audience – and it’s awe-inspiring to watch”- ★★★★★ – TimeOut
“Rhys Nicholson at the top of his game. His economy of words is at a Jerry Seinfeld-level, with more edge and less zeroes in his bank account.” ★★★★½ – The Herald Sun (Aus)
“There’s not a single moment that doesn’t work, nor any story that falls flat. Nicholson is truly at the top of his game” ★★★★★ – The NZ Herald
“Sheer comedy brilliance” ★★★★ The List (UK)
Shows
Social Liability (2011)
Almost a Person (2012)
Dawn of a New Error (2013)
Eurgh (2014)
Forward (2015)
Bona Fide (2016)
I’m Fine (2017)
Seminal (2018)
Nice People Nice Things Nice Situations (2019)
Film & TV
The Imperfects – Netflix
Rhys Nicholson Live At The Athenaeum – Netflix
Why Are You Like This? – ABCTV/Netflix
The Weekly – ABCTV
Fisk – ABCTV
CONAN – TBS USA
The Stand Up Sketch Show- ITV UK
The Stand Up Show – CBC
The Letdown – ABCTV/Netflix
Roast Battle – Comedy Central UK
Live From the BBC – BBC
GAYCRASHERS – ABCTV
Cram – Network 10
Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala 2019 – CH10
Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala 2018 – CH10
Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala 2017 – CH10
Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala 2016 – CH10
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- ABCTV
COMEDY UP LATE 2015- ABCTV
COMEDY UP LATE 2016- ABCTV
COMEDY UP LATE 2017- ABCTV