Biography
Mat Ricardo is, according to The Scotsman, “Undoubtedly one of the greatest variety artists working today.”
His 35+ year career saw him learn his craft as a street performer in London’s famous Covent Garden, before travelling the world’s theatres, cabaret clubs and festivals, advancing and redefining his artform to become one of the most critically acclaimed and successful speciality acts there is.
His 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.
He is the only variety artist to ever 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.
His most popular one man show Mat Ricardo vs The World sold out every single performance at the Edinburgh Fringe festival, while gaining faultlessly excellent reviews, which paved the way for an extensive UK tour. His previous solo theatre shows have had several sell-out runs in London’s West End, and toured to packed houses as far afield as Australia, South Korea, Finland, Germany and Belgium.
Alongside his performing work, he is a writer, podcaster, TEDx speaker, an ambassador for the mental health non-profit Mental Ideas.
Mat is booked at prestigious corporate and live events all across the UK and across the globe.
“Thrilling… Spellbinding… The Quintessential Showman.”
“The best variety act in the business… A man who is most comfortable doing the seemingly impossible in front of an enraptured audience.”
"Mat Ricardo is amazing."
Awards & Competitions
- Winner - Herald Angel Award
- Best Speciality Act - Inaugural London Cabaret Award winner
- Winner - Toronto International Buskerfest 'People's Choice' Award - 2019
- Contestant - La France A Un Incroyable Talent - 2020
- Contestant - America's Got Talent - 2019
- Winner- KleinKunst Award - 2016
- Nominee - Best Speciality Act Award, London Cabaret Awards
Appearances & Credits
- TV & Film Credits:
- America's Got Talent - NBC
- Tu Si Que Vales - Italy
- Paul Daniels, My Life in Magic - Channel 5
- Duck Quacks Don't Echo - Sky1
- Now You See It - BBC One
- The Jonathan Ross Show - ITV
- The Alan Titchmarsh Show - ITV
- Lets Do Lunch with Gino & Mel - ITV
- Semi-regular on all series of Cilla Black's Moment Of Truth - ITV
- Festivals:
- Edinburgh Festival Fringe
- Street Performers Festival, Canada
- Udderbelly Festival, Hong Kong
- London International Mime Festival
- Busan Festival, Korea
- Birmingham Cabaret Festival
- Adelaide Fringe
- Christchurch World Buskers festival, New Zealand