Artist Profile
Phil Nichol
NOMINEE CHORTLE BEST HEADLINER AWARD 2010
IF.COM EDDIE AWARD WINNER 2006
NOMINEE THE STAGE AWARD FOR ACTING EXCELLENCE 2006
WINNER THE STAGE AWARD FOR ACTING EXCELLENCE 2005
WINNER BEST INTERNATIONAL GUEST – NZ COMEDY GUILD 2003
TIME OUT BEST COMEDY PERFORMER 1998
NOMINEE PERRIER AWARD 1993
Phil Nichol is a truly unique performer. An acclaimed actor, award winning comedian, producer, presenter, writer and musician there is no end to his talent.
Phil is an energetic and exciting performer with an unquenchable thirst to break boundaries and innovate with his work. His skill as an improviser whether it be musical, comedy or straight is unparalled. With a surreal edge to some of his mischievous rantings Nichol always brings something new to the stage, his keen sense of fun and eye for the shocking and absurd has cemented his position as one of the best comedians on the circuit today. His assured and award winning performances in his theatrical work have attracted critical accolades and see him in great demand as an actor.
LIVE WORK
Phil headlines all the major comedy clubs around the country and is also heavily involved as a resident host in Old Rope a new material night which runs in London and Brighton.
Phil also presented the 2007 IF.Comedy Award alongside his One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest co-star Christian Slater.
Be sure to catch Phil's latest solo show 'Welcome to Crazytown' at the Stand One 6th- 30th (not 16th) August at 18.50 as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
FESTIVALS
Just For Laughs – Montreal
Melbourne Comedy Festival
Edinburgh Fringe Festival
Liverpool Comedy Festival
Glasgow Comedy Festival
Leicester Comedy Festival
Manchester Comedy Festival
Cambridge Comedy Festival
New Zealand Comedy Festival
Glastonbury Festival
Altitude Festival
Adelaide Fringe Festival
Paramount Comedy Festival – Brighton
Carlsberg Comedy Festival – Dublin
The Mentos International Comedy Festival - Durban
RADIO
Mitch Benn Music Show – BBC Radio 7
Self Storage - BBC Radio 4
Look Away Now – BBC Radio 4
Hot Gossip – BBC Radio 2
The Maltby Collection – BBC Radio 4
4 In a Field – BBC Radio 4
TV
One Star – BBC1 & BBC2
Fur TV- ‘Fat Ed’ – 8 Eps – 2008
Comedy Songs: The Pop Years – 2008
Thank God You’re Here - 2 Eps – 2008
Comedy Shuffle – 2007
The Graham Norton Show – 2007
The Most Annoying Pop Songs…We Hate to Love – 2007
The IF.Comedy Awards: A Comedy Cuts Special - 2007
Comedy Cuts – 2007
What The F**?!! -2007
Graham Norton’s Bigger Picture - 2006
Never Mind The Buzzcocks - 2006
Annually Retentive – (Producer) – 2006
Comedy Lab – ‘Keith Hutton’ -2006
Broken News - ‘ Josh Cashman’ – 6 Eps – 2005 –BBC
The World Stands Up – 2004
Born Sloppy – 2003 – Channel 4
The RDA – 4 Eps – 2001
The Stand Up Show - BBC 1999/2000/2001
The Weakest Link - 2001 – BBC
Comedy Lab: Pornorama – Channel 4 – 1999
Hidden Camera – 1998 - BBC
Alexei Sayle’s Merry Go Round - 1998 – BBC
MADtv - 2 Eps – 1997/98
Phil Kay Feels - 1997 – Channel 4
The Stand Up Show – 1996 – BBC
Jeff Green Live - 1996 – LWT
Edinburgh Nights – 1996 - BBC
The Comedy Store – Series 3 – Channel 5
Imposter – Pilot – RDF Media
Jesus Green – Pilot – Absolutely Productions
Haywire – BBC
Class of ’99 – LWT
Live at Jongleurs – Series 3 – UK Gold
Jerry Sadowitz Versus The Edinburgh Fringe – LWT
THEATRE
Sam Shepard’s Simpatico - Old Red Lion - 2009
Talk Radio – Udderbelly – 2006
True West – Assembly Rooms
Slovenian Play Readings – SoHo Theatre
The Odd Couple – Assembly Hall
The Zoo Story - Guilded Balloon
One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest – Assembly Rooms/Gielgud Theatre
12 Angry Men – Assembly Rooms/Australia/New Zealand
Taboo – The Venue
The Tempest – Totonto Free Theatre/Centre Stage
Faces of War – Sudbuy Theatre Centre
Not As Hard As It Seems - Theatre-On-The-Move
Mabel: Two nights…- Gina Lori Riley Dance Enterprises (American Tour)
The Country Wife – Performing Arts Centre
A Midsummer Nights Dream – Performing Arts Centre
FILM
Confetti – 2006- Debbi Lsitt
CASTING INFO
Spotlight 4501
Height: 5’7
Weight: 160lbs
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown
Casting Age: 36-45
Skills: Bass guitar, guitar, dance.
Astra, Actra, Equity (Canada)
PRESS
WELCOME TO CRAZYTOWN (Edinburgh 2010)
"Phil Nichol is an extraordinary performer – entrancing and alarming in equal measure." The Stage 25/08/2010
“Delightfully silly succession of unhinged
underworld creeps” **** The List 23/08/2010
“...a
man whose talent is matched only by lunacy... a joy to watch... An utter joy.”
**** Fresh Air 22/08/2010
“As
with all performances I have seen Nichol deliver, he puts he heart and soul
into it and this is certainly no exception. He delivers a performance that is
worthy of the work and the backing band is excellent also. It is obvious that
he loves this piece and so he should.“ **** One4Review 20/08/2010
“The workmanship is undeniable, and some of the
lines are bang-on-the-money funny” The Artsdesk 17/08/2010
ter Bobby Spade had other ideas. We journey back to
1974 and a seedy jazz club in middle America, where Bobby and his hep cat band
The Kerouacians lay down syncopated beats behind an opening flurry of one
liners. That is a prelude to an intense, dramatic, musical comedy, a theatrical
joyride in the company of Ethel Merman and Edgar Allan Poe. A faithful
recreation of a pivotal event in 20th Century cultural history which never
really happened. The genius is in the imperfection and that's jazz." *****
The Herald 17/08/2010
“...engrossing
throughout... it’s a hugely enjoyable work that
stands a mile apart from the more regular comedy on offer in abundance at the
Fringe.” STV 17/08/2010
“Nichol
is a restless innovator... hypnotic” The Sunday Herald 15/08/2010
“The energy of the performance is incredible;
in fact Nichol almost needs to put in a few pauses so that the audience doesn’t
miss the gags, trickery and the wordplay in his dark twisted lyrics and warped
poetry... the band are all terrific musicians... hilarious.” **** Hotshow: The
Scotsman 14/08/2010
“Imaginative
and hilarious... Nichol’s lyrical skill is so impressive, and his ideas so
consistently clever that you find yourself grinning open-mouthed in
appreciation, but not wanting to miss anything he says by laughing... a
superbly written show... I recommend buying a ticket now, before everybody
hears about this hilarious poet and the show is fully booked.” **** Edfest
13/08/2010
“Nichol
is a sight to behold” Fest 12/08/2010
"Exceptional
performance... Nichol completely inhabits the character of Spade, leering from
the stage, with perfect delivery, pacing and rhythm.... It is a great piece of
work, sharply written, evocative of the era and genre, mocking yet reverential,
and of course, extremely funny... I left with the impression of a slick
professional production that it had been a privilege to see." *****
Broadway Baby 10/08/2010
OTHER COMEDY PRESS
“The majority of the crowd, myself included, loved every moment and were constantly on the floor with tears of laughter…brilliant…He was as subtle a baseball bat to the head and could scream and wail with the best of them…you will be rewarded with one of the most satisfying experiences in a comedy show.” The Groggy Squirrel
"Not for the easily offended, but it's fascinating all the same." The Age
“seismically powerful award-winning comic force” The Scotsman
“Phil’s poetry pulls punches, punctuated by puns and hysteria.” One4Review
"riotously funny-and filthy” The Sunday Telegraph
“cripplingly funny.” Three Weeks
“Edgy in a cartoonish way” The Independent
“…a clever mix of songs, poems and brilliant one-liners. Beyond brilliant.” The Scotsman
“Rollercoaster ride of black comedy gold” The List
“You won’t see many comedy shows that actually exert g-force. But if you’re a passion junkie like me, there is no better place to get your fix than from Phil Nichol…exhilarating, incredibly funny and clever” The Scotsman
“A genius of a show” The Herald
“Delightfully shocking and hilarious at the same time” Hairline
“You could power a small market town from this performance. Add to that storytelling nous, stagecraft surprises and a brazen disregard for personal dignity and you’ve got a shameless shaggy dog story to warm the cockles of the heart” The Times
“Utterly engaging, heartfelt and often hilarious hour” Metro
“Nichol’s thermonuclear stage presence is so intense as to elude description. Give him any room and any crowd and he’ll win them over…He’s just outstandingly good at what he does” The List
“Infectious joy” Scotland on Sunday
“Occassionally offensive, always foul-mouthed and above all funny” Edinburgh Evening News.
“A great stand-up show: themed, engaging, expertly performed and most of all funny…an hour of engaging, high-octane comedy storytelling guaranteed to entertain” Chortle
“Unflappable, luminous talent” The List
“In the most wonderful possible way, this must be how the inhabitants of Java felt when Krakatoa erupted” Edinburgh Guide
“Attacks his material with all the restraint of a Tasmanian Devil in a foghorn factory” The Times
“Nichols comedy and music is outstandingly powerful and funny” The Stage
“Genius” The Herald
“Nichol is the sexiest, funniest dichotomy on a stage today – vulnerable but kicks ass, smart but dumb, a lovely guy who does appalling things” Edinburgh Guide.
“You could have children with someone and not feel as close to them as you do to this guy in one of his shows” The Scotsman
“Charming, witty and alarmingly unhinged” Skinny
“The king of funny guys” Daily Record
“Unfailingly impressive” The Guardian
THEATRE PRESS
Press for Simpatico
“Phil Nichol is superb” The Stage
“the unkempt, tramp-like Vinnie, grittily portrayed by actor-comedian Phil Nichol, in the depths of despair. He has the best accent and by his playing, brings a sympathy to a whining drunkard who deserves little, if any.” The British Theatre Guide
“Phil Nichol and Gabriel Butler-Lewis as the sparring, forever joined Vinnie and Carter perform well” The Guardian
“Nichol emphasizes the bestial instinct beneath his human cunning…quirkily enjoyable” The Times.
Press for True West
“beautifully acted by Phil Nichol, his performance is intensely exhausting” The List
“Nichol gives a lovely, gentle, multi-faceted performance…absolutely electric” The Scotsman
“True West is incredibly well acted by Stage Best Actor 2005 Phil Nichol… one word – captivating” Three Weeks
“I am continually delighted by the wealth of characters pouring out of Phil Nichol” One4Review
“A gold nugget among the rubble…don’t miss this” The Guardian.
Press for Talk Radio
“A revelation…very enjoyable” Sunday Express
“Compelling” Metro
“Brilliant” The Herald
“Nichol at his brashest, horribly entertaining” The Times
“Thoroughly compelling” Financial Times
“Powerful” Chortle
“A towering performance” Evening Post
“A breathlessly impressive performance” Scotland on Sunday
“The performance of a lifetime” The List
Press for Zoo Story
“Nichol is awesomely good, bringing danger with him to the stage like a young Jack Nicholson…There can be no more powerful, charismatic or memorable performance than Nichol’s Jerry on a stage this August. Watching him is like watching a trapeze artist fly with no net…Nichol is special.” The Scotsman
“You won’t see finer acting on the Fringe – and you won’t get a ticket if you don’t book now before the word on this one gets out” Daily Mail
Press for 12 Angry Men
“Phil Nichol as the racist, blue-collar yob is a revelation. He is perfect as the swaggering wise guy and his vitriolic rant about “these people” has such power it stops the show” Daily Mail
“The piece isn’t only gripping: it’s surprisingly plausible. And that’s thanks to comedians such as…Phil Nichol, the scarily unfunny voice of punitive racism and blue collar fascism” The Times
“The role of tenth juror offers Phil Nichol the most appropriate forum for his trademark volcanic rage…Masterson’s stand-ups have done Twelve Angry men justice” The Guardian
“Nichols racist outburst transfixes the audience…it’s a hit, beyond any reasonable doubt” Chortle
Gagarin Way 2009
"Nichol dominated with his menacing stare and hardman walk, chin-first, fists balled. He stumbled over his lines, but even that was strangely authentic, as if Eddie was editing his own racing thoughts." The Herald.
“The script is superb but the ad-libs make it magic.” News of the World
"Phil Nichol is suitably devious” The Stage
“Phil Nichol is a central fulcrum of relative restraint.” Chortle
