Glynn Nicholas

Glynn Nicholas is a multifaceted producer, director, actor, comedian, writer, and mentor, celebrated for his innovation in comedy, musical theatre, and live performance. Over his career, he has created and produced a wide array of productions including one-man stage shows, musicals, plays, vaudeville and burlesque shows, television series, variety shows, and major special events.

Widely respected as a creative force, Glynn is a sought-after freelance producer and director. He works closely with actors, comedians, and keynote speakers, helping them refine content, stagecraft, presentational skills, and audience engagement to create truly captivating performances. His stage productions have received critical acclaim in Australia and internationally, particularly Certified Male—co-written with Scott Rankin—which toured multiple countries, and Song Contest – the Almost Eurovision Experience.

Born in Bristol, England, Glynn’s early life was far from the arts. His father was a mechanical engineer and his mother a hairdresser. At age ten, his family moved to Cardiff, South Wales, where he lived with his three siblings until, at 19, he emigrated to Australia under assisted passage, arriving in May 1973. Initially working in sales, manual labour, and as a bus conductor, Glynn showed little inclination for performance.

In late 1976, while on a fruit-picking working holiday in Crete, he learned to play guitar and soon travelled to Germany to busk, developing a unique blend of music, comedy, and mime. His natural ability to entertain large crowds quickly became evident, and over the next ten years, Glynn won numerous awards in Australia, Europe, and the USA. He also undertook intensive study in mime with Zora Semberova in Adelaide, and in circus skills and clowning at Hayward College, San Francisco.

Glynn Nicholas continues to shape the landscape of comedy and musical theatre, combining creativity, mentorship, and performance mastery to inspire both audiences and performers alike. Few speakers in Australia have the breadth of experience Glynn brings. His keynote addresses are exceedingly funny, insightful, and genuinely uplifting, offering a distillation of decades of practical experience in show business, delivered with his laconic wit.

His talks reveal the realities of mounting productions—from West End hits to box office flops—and provide an entertaining, behind-the-scenes look at the creative and business challenges of the performing arts. With no reliance on PowerPoint, Glynn engages audiences through his incredible performance skills, inspiring story, and insightful perspectives.

As a Master of Ceremonies, Glynn is brilliant, always funny, well-researched, and an excellent communicator with both organisers and audiences. His ability to read a room and think on his feet is exemplary. He can combine MC duties with guest entertainment or a keynote address, offering exceptional value for any event.

Glynn Nicholas is a consummate performer and creative professional in a class of his own, combining entertainment, mentorship, and insight to leave audiences both enlightened and thoroughly entertained.