Rhys Nicholson

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 Down Under.

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 (ABC) & 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.