Archie has been with us forever, and if you’ve seen him headline or open one of our mixed bill gigs then you know he’s one of the funniest comedians on the circuit. He’s cheeky but whip-smart, taking everyday situations and teasing them into something unique and pointing out the strange truths that lies behind them. His natural charm and stage presence allows him to get away with trolling and poking fun at everything and everyone.
We’re not the only people to have found him funny. He was a finalist in both the New Acts of the Year and English Comedian of the year in 2014. He was also the runner-up in the Amused Moose Laugh Off competition and the winner of the Bath New Act of The Year in 2014. In 2016, he took his debut show Shirts Vs Skins to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, which received excellent reviews and followed with a tour of South Africa in 2017. His follow-up show, IlluminArchie, was loved by critics and audience alike. Archie recently appeared on Comedy Central’s Guessable? Here’s some of the things that critics have been saying about him:
“I don’t think it’s possible to watch Archie perform and not have a great time” – Radio Ha-ha ★★★★
“It’s clear that Archie Maddocks has found his calling in comedy…a brilliant job balancing light silly humour with thought-provoking, refreshing and subversive social discussion.” – Entertainment Focus ★★★★
“a stellar example of stand-up comedy” – The National Student ★★★★
“Poignant, inventive and razor sharp” – Broadway Baby ★★★★
“He is a natural with an audience, boldly exploring controversial topics such as race and religion. Just as you’ve tensed up, he manages to bring the energy back down with amazing skill – leaving everyone in stitches by the end of the show”- Ed Fest Mag ★★★★
Most importantly, he’s been trying to inculcate in our staff a deep addiction to frozen yoghurt. Honestly if you could all patronise this shop on the way to and from our clubs then it will help keep it open and ensure that Archie is kept in sweet treats and ready to knock your socks off on stage.
It’s not just the comedy world that benefits from his sharp writing, though. His play, ‘A Place for We’ was shortlisted for the Bruntwood Prize from a submission pile of 1900 and was also shortlisted for the Alfred Fagon Award. It was staged at the Park Theatre in autumn 2021 and has just been nominated for an Olivier Award 2022 for Outstanding Achievement in Affiliate Theatre. Here’s what the smart people had to say about that:
‘Full of subtlety and naturalism’ ★★★★ The Guardian
‘The funniest play of the year’ ★★★★★ Theatre Weekly
‘Fantastically funny… great timing and tension from the cast.’ ★★★★ London Theatre Reviews
‘Fundamentally a brilliant play’ ★★★★ The Rendition
If you haven’t seen Archie yet then you’re really missing out – come and check him out, he’s honestly one of the best acts on the circuit and one of our all time favourites.
