COMEDY

Nicola Gardner combines humour with glamour — she can certainly titillate as well as stimulate. Comedy parts include the role of Tessa in ‘Funeral Games’ — Dancehouse Theatre, Receptionist in ‘The World of Lee Evans’ — Granada TV, Angelica in Yorkshire TV’s ‘Lamb of God’, Brenda in ‘Better than Disneyworld’ for Electric Theatre Company & a whole host of characters for the devised production of ‘Moist Pam’s Aerobic Therapy’ for Newfound Theatre Company.

As well as a performer, Nicola is also a writer and has created comedy sketch material for radio & television. In addition, her charismatic and cheeky standup performance lends itself to stage,TV, corporate entertainment and anywhere else you please. She looks good and sounds good.

‘Your material is very fresh & edgy (I particularly like the Defiant Ones)’ - Mark Free/and, Head of Sky Productions, BSkyB

Nicola has also recorded a comedy show for Southside Radio which she cohosted with fellow comedienne, Fiona Carnegie. Nicola has also appeared in comedy plays for BBC Radio 4. In addition she has performed in comedy productions at both the Contact and the Library Theatre.

Nicola brings to life characters from ethnic minorities that not only delight but also help to narrow cultural divides. Characters like Florence, the West Indian Lesbian & Floella, the African Hairdresser.

All characters in Nicola’s writing are multi-cultural and include Karen & Sharon
— the Liverpool Chambermaids, Kate Slosh & Naomi Tantrum, Bandage of Gold — Beryl & Cheryl are lasses from ‘up north’, The Defiant Ones — spoof of the Sidney Poitier/Tony Curtis film, Driving Miss Dandelion & many, many more.

Nicola is half of Not2Bad comedy duo, her partner of 5 years is Sharon Heywood. They met at a stand-up comedy workshop and since creating Not2Bad, Nicola and Sharon have written and performed in their own comedy show, ‘Blood Sisters Reunited’. Reviews for the show were excellent:
 
'Funny anarchy' - Peter McGarry, Artistic Director, Eyewitness Theatre Company 
 
'Lots of snappy one-liners coming thick & fast in this intimate venue - the Manchester audience loved the clever dialogue written & performed by Gardner/Heywood/Co - they deserve a bigger stage to show off their talents' - Emiline White, Tameside Advertiser

Not2Bad also have a regular slot on All FM Radio station as comedy characters Shaniqua & Chanise.

Nicola appears in 2 comedy showreels which can be viewed at the following sites www.not2baduk.com & www.avinalaugh2.com

Nicola’s stand-up comedy routine at the Sitcom Shorts comedy show, 2009 was reviewed by City Life:

‘The funniest moment of the night came with Nicola Gardner as Florence the Jamaican Lesbian and her hilarious gag about self-love and phone sex’ - Susannah Wright, City Life.

‘Between plays and to allow for the stage to be set up, there were stand-up comedy fillers, the highlight being Nicola Gardner who played Florence, a Jamaican woman who had left her husband to become a lesbian. Gardner had a positive rapport with the audience with a routine that had many riotous gags and produced a few belly laughs’ - Michelle Param, City Life.