His thirty-plus year career has seen him travel the worlds theatres, cabaret clubs and festivals, advancing and redefining his artform to become one of the most critically acclaimed and successful speciality acts there is. He is, to quote the London Evening Standard, “Breathtaking”.
His innovative and groundbreaking work merges physical and verbal comedy, storytelling, dance and, of course, his trademark spectacular feats of circus, magic and dexterity, all presented in a unique cocktail of cool, slick honesty.
“The best variety act in the business… A man who is most comfortable doing the seemingly impossible in front of an enraptured audience”– Broadway Baby
He is the only variety artist to win the Herald Angel award for excellence in theatre. Additionally, he has won the inaugural British cabaret award for variety, the Kleinkunst cabaret prize, StageTalk magazines show of the year, and the ArtsAward pick of the fringe. He has performed cabaret in virtually every place where it can be performed, in all corners of the globe, including repeat residencies in such iconic venues as The Royal Albert Hall, The Savoy Hotel and Hollywood’s Magic Castle, and more than once, privately, for members of the British Royal Family.
“Mat Ricardo is amazing!”– HRH Prince Charles
His most recent one man show “Mat Ricardo vs The World” sold out every single performance at the 2018 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, while gaining faultlessly excellent reviews, which paved the way for an extensive UK tour in the autumn of that year. His previous solo theatre shows have had several sell-out runs in London’s West End, been showcased at the Purcell Room in the South Bank Centre as part of the London International Mime Festival, and toured to packed houses as far afield as Australia, South Korea, Finland, Germany and Belgium.
“Terrific humour and genuine skill. The showman deserves your applause”– The Guardian
Alongside his performing work, he is a TEDx speaker, an ambassador for the mental health non-profit “Mental Ideas” and a co-host of the accompanying radio show. For two years he was a regular columnist for the British comedy website Chortle, writing about subjects as diverse as depression and creativity, gender,internet trollsand originality, he has also contributed pieces for Time Out, The Magic Circular and the Huffington Post, and still maintains his own widely-read blog. An experienced interviewer, Mat has chatted to some of the biggest stars of comedy and entertainment live on stage for the BBC, The National Theatre, and in several West End theatres.
“A minor legend. We left feeling rather richer to have spent an hour in his warm and commanding presence”– Total Theatre
Mat Ricardo Notable Recent performances
2019
National UK theatre tour of one man show “Mat Ricardo vs The World”
Appearances on America’s Got Talent
Various headline residencies in London West End cabaret shows
Festival performance bookings in Switzerland, Ottawa, Toronto, Vienna & Czech Republic
Performing and directing UK season of Variety Club For Kids
Residency at Kleinesfest Variety in Germany
Performing and directing “Mat Ricardo’s Varieties” at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Full-Length one-man headline shows on Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines
2018
Private performance at St.James Palace for HRH Prince of Wales and staff
Performing and directing Mat Ricardo’s Varieties, London West End theatre, sold out season
Headline performer, Magic Circle Winter Show
Special guest, 35 date National UK Theatre tour
Festival performance bookings in Canada, Ireland, Germany & France
Performing and directing “Mat Ricardo vs The World”, Edinburgh Fringe, sold out season
National UK Theatre tour of “Mat Ricardo vs The World”
Appearance on Italian TV show “Ti Su Que Vales”
Various headline cabaret appearances and private/corporate shows
