Artist Profile
Phil Nichol
Follow Phil on Twitter @philnichol
SCOTSMAN FRINGE FIRST WINNER 2011 FOR 'SOMEWHERE BENEATH IT ALL, A SMALL FIRE BURNS STILL'
NOMINEE CHORTLE BEST HEADLINER AWARD (2010, 2006, 2002)
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
NOMINEE PERRIER AWARD FOR 'THINGS I LIKE, I LICK' 2002
NOMINEE CHORTLE BEST MALE CIRCUIT COMIC 2002
TIME OUT BEST COMEDY PERFORMER 1998
NOMINEE PERRIER AWARD FOR 'CORKY AND THE JUICE PIGS' 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. This Summer, Phil is filming 'Holy Flying Circus' - a BBC drama about the censorship of Monty Python's Life Of Brian - in which he will be playing Terry Gilliam, alongside Rufus Hound and Steve Punt.
He is also in high demand for work as a voiceover artist. Visit his profile at M2M.
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.
This year, Phil performed a new hour of hilarious stand up and songs, called the 'Simple Hour' at The Stand in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival as well as featuring in 'Somewhere Beneath It All, A Small Fire Burns Still' at the Gilded Balloon.
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
My Teenage Diary - BBC Radio 4
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
Holy Flying Circus - BBC Four - 2011
Richard Bacon's Beer and Pizza Club - ITV4 - 2010
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
Corky and the Juice Pigs - Mad TV - 1995
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
Somewhere Beneath It All, A Small Fire Burns Still - Gilded Balloon - 2011
School For Scandal - Comedians Theatre Company - 2009
Sam Shepard’s Simpatico - Old Red Lion - 2009
Killer Joe - Comedians Theatre Company - 2007
Talk Radio – Udderbelly – 2006
True West – Assembly Rooms
Slovenian Play Readings – SoHo Theatre
The Odd Couple – Assembly Hall
The Zoo Story - Gilded Balloon
One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest – Assembly Rooms/Gielgud Theatre
12 Angry Men – Assembly Rooms/Australia/New Zealand
Taboo – The Venue
What You Really Want - Pleasance Theatre
War/Aesops Fables - Sudbury Theatre Centre
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
Short Film - A Little Off The Top
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
THE SIMPLE HOUR (EDINBURGH 2011)
“It’s non-stop entertainment... wide-eyed bounding enthusiasm.” – STV 26/08/2011
“...a ‘simple’ hour with Phil Nichol is a veritable comedy goldmine... riotously funny ... the audience demand more of the crazed comedy majesty that is Phil Nichol.” ***** - Fringe Guru 22/08/2011
“Phil Nichol is such a versatile performer it just isn’t fair to the rest of us mortals... Again this year he has reverted to doing simply an hour’s worth of stuff with no complex characters, just being himself, the crazy, wacky, funny hyperactive comedy genius and musician that only he can do at once.” ***** - One4Review 19/08/2011
“Simple it maybe in name, but it is expertly delivered and perfectly timed... The Simple Hour is very funny hour of madness, mayhem and magic, as only Nichol has mastered.” **** - Chortle 17/08/2011
“If EVER there were an irresistible comedy force, it is Phil Nichol. This year there was no Bobby Spade, no band, no nudity. Instead there is feelgood factor, funny songs, flirting, jokes and generalised silliness from a comic whose show has enough energy to run an entire tram system, were there such a thing around. I can imagine Nichol coming up with some new kind of wonderful every night. You would have to be not just miserable but insensible not to be infected with Nichol's funnybug. It is like spending an hour in a comedy jacuzzi." Kate Copstick. The Scotsman **** 16/8/11
“Former Perrier award winner Phil Nichol may have labelled this The Simple Hour, but there’s nothing simple about delivering a set with enough energy to light up the New Town on a damp Edinburgh evening... ingenious.” **** - Fest 13/08/2011
“...vibrant and purposeful... penetrating and exuberant” **** – Simon Fielding - The Skinny 13/08/2011
“To answer the great philosophical question - if Phil Nichol fell in the forest and no-one was watching, it undoubtedly would make a sound. And that sound would be bloody funny.” – Kate Copstick - The Scotsman 06/08/2011
"There are too many reasons to go and see this almost infinitely talented comic to list here. This year he is bringing a "Simple Hour" of jokes and funny songs. Which is a little like Heston Blumenthal offering to rustle you up a sandwich." - 24/06/2011 - Kate Copstick for The Scotsman "20 Comedians To Catch At The Edinburgh Festival"
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
"Few, if any, Fringe comedy shows have featured the Kubler- Ross model defining the five stages of grief as an incidental theme, but award:winning Phil Nichol loves a challenge. A year ago, the Canadian was ready to pack it in, but his beat poet character 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
TV PRESS
PRESS FOR HOLY FLYING CIRCUS OCTOBER 19 2011 BBC 9.00PM
"One of the programmes of the year"
The Times
"A Triumph"
The Sunday Times
"Hugely enjoyable"
Time Out
"A mad mash up of self reference, cross dressing, ribaldry and nonsense. I loved it"
Radio Times
"Anarchic and witty with post modern flourishes that the Pythons themselves would be proud of"
TV Times
“Tony Roche’s ridiculously funny film pulls off an ingenious balancing trick with its accurate and affectionate pastiche of Pythonesque humour, while looking back at the furore Life of Brian created.” - Mirror
“The climax, a TV debate between a subdued Cleese and an exasperated Palin on one side and Bishop Mervyn Stockwood and Malcolm Muggeridge was as gripping as Frost/Nixon.” - The Times
“What Holy Flying Circus pulled off with aplomb was the feel of a Python show within a show, bizarre fantasy scenes juxtaposed with holy tablets of facts.” – Metro
“There’s plenty of cross-dressing, Gilliam-esque animations and of course, full-frontal male nudity… Comedy’s ability to make light of what people take too seriously is its greatest service and the controversy surrounding Monty Python illustrates this beautifully. Holy Flying Circus begins and ends with the message that even though people will always find a way to be offended by satire it is the necessary role of comedians to poke fun at the world.” – On The Box
“Constantly inventive, often very funny” - The Daily Telegraph
“The quirky comedy drama, which focused on the controversy surrounding the 1979 film Monty Python’s Life of Brian, also attracted a good deal of attention on Twitter during its broadcast - with both #flyingcircus and “Monty Python” trending throughout the evening. “ – Radio Times
“deliriously inventive, fabulously energetic, militantly unpredictable… fuel for one of the comedies of the year… Roche and his perfect cast created something that was funny on its own merits as well as a fanboy joy, not stuck in aspic but fresh and sharp – a thing to cherish on the same shelf as those Python box sets… intelligent, heartfelt and dramatic.” – Radio Times
“The weird thing was that although the film was an homage to silly, I am pretty sure Holy Flying Circus did get to the heart of things” - The Times
SOMEWHERE BENEATH IT ALL, A SMALL FIRE BURNS STILL (Edinburgh 2011)
WINNER OF A SCOTSMAN’S FRINGE FIRST AWARD
“Phil Nichol fabulous in Somewhere Beneath It All, A Small Fire Burns Still Burns @ Gilded B even if script too clever by half.” – The Guardian’s Lyn Gardner’s Twitter
"Starting with a bang... a masterclass in everything right with fringe-style monologues. Performed by Fringe favourite Phil Nichol... a tour de force and a brilliant reminder of how excellent a performer Nichol is. Do not miss this." ***** Across the Arts
“Florez blends Nichol’s personal facts and fictions in a perfect showcase for this engaging performer’s talents... clever stuff and perfectly executed.” ***** - Terri Paddock – What’s On Stage 10/08/2011
"Phil Nichol launches this rapid-fire one-man show... Nichol, directed by triple Fringe First winner Hannah Eidinow, is more than able to keep pace... He shapes a character who is complex and full of contradictions, a coiled spring of repressed energy... this a sharp, inventive piece of theatre, impeccably delivered" **** The Scotsman
"one performance you are unlikely to forget... I am still reeling from it" **** Edinburgh Festivals Magazine
"Nichols is utterly fearless" **** Metro
"Nichol is a top class actor... one you are unlikely to forget." **** One4Review
"This is a brilliantly clever show... an innovative work and something special." *** British Theatre Guide
“ The charisma-drenched comic relates the play's touching backstory—Kevin is a disabled teen Nichol once cared for—then resumes his act flawlessly.... Nichol is an engaging and unpredictable performer.” **** - Fest
“ Phil Nichol adds a coiled-spring intensity that makes the man simultaneously comic, pathetic and dangerous.” – The Stage
