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#JoshofALLTrades
#MasterofNONE
As an actor, Josh’s credits include Little Ernie, the BAFTA award winning BBC Morecambe and Wise biopic “Eric & Ernie”, being run over in BBC1’s “Casualty” and cameos in “Monroe” for ITV and “The Knife That Killed Me” for Universal UK. He played Tommo in Gary Barlow and Tim Firth’s “The [Calendar] Girls” Musical from 2015 – 2017, both in the world premiere at Leeds Grand / The Lowry and at the Phoenix Theatre, in London’s West End. In 2018, Josh’s passion for live performance work began to shift more towards comedy than just 'straight acting', and he found a perfect combination of the two in the world of PANTOMIME. For more info on Josh's subsequent panto career, click HERE.
Having started young (before he could even drive himself to gigs!) 'just JOSH’ is this year celebrating a decade as a professional kids & family entertainer, having proudly entertained at hundreds of parties / events, on cruise ships and in visitor attractions. A self titled ‘Premier Provider of Daft Comedy Chaos!' his act combines comedy Magic, Juggling, Balloonology (that's making balloon dogs 'n' stuff!) & Disco / Games. His infamously high energy, physicality and natural rapport with children (of which he still very much considers himself one!) has made him one of the most sought after kids entertainers in the UK, twice winning the York ‘Little Vikings’ Award for Best Birthday Party Entertainer.
In 2019, Josh’s love for family entertainment was picked up on by 'Farmer Tom' Pearcy, owner of York Maze, who quickly appointed Josh as his "CORNtroller" of Entertainments for the summer season. The development of this is perhaps one of Josh’s proudest achievements, for more information, click HERE.
This is actually where it all started for Josh. For 3 years (from age 14-16) he worked his weekends on a Magic Stall in York Market - demonstrating & selling fun ‘easy-to-do’ card & coin tricks (as well as fake dog poo and stink bombs!). This sparked a keen interest in sleight of hand and comedy mind-reading, and Josh quickly started working on his own ‘Close-Up’ act, with more complex routines than just those sold on the stall. After showcasing these at various family parties (AKA annoying his relatives!?) he began taking bookings for Weddings, Parties, Events and Restaurants.
For a ‘one-on-one’, small group or full table of spectators - Josh's Comedy Close Up Magic is the PERFECT ice breaker for any event, bringing guests together with a common question… "how did he do that?” Or, failing that that, they’ll certainly wonder “is somebody actually paying him to be here!?
Josh's passion for variety performance developed during his stint as 'Little Ernie' in the Morecambe & Wise biopic "Eric & Ernie". From this, Josh was inspired by the likes of Victoria Wood, Tommy Cooper, Rowan Atkinson and The Two Ronnies to create his own variety cabaret shows.
His first were at age 15, in Elvington Village Hall, (where his Nan lived) providing a couple of hours of entertainment for the Senior Citizens Christmas Parties. These variety skills of comedy, magic, song, dance and general ‘daftness for adults’ developed further for Josh, in 4 sell out “Evenings of Cabaret & Comedy” shows in York, which he produced with his Dad, Barry. "Since that, as a ‘grown up’ entertainer, his 'Stage’ Comedy Magic and Juggling has taken to the stages of “The Good Old Days” at the Leeds City Varieties Music Hall, various cabaret night down at Lodnon’s Phoenix Arts Club and “Players Music Hall” / “Best of British Music Hall” in London’s Charing Cross Theatre and Brick Lane Music Hall respectively.
In 2020, Josh was just about to embark on a small UK Tour of his new One-Man Variety Show “Josh of ALL Trades”. This was rudely interrupted by the pandemic, but he does hope to bring it back one day (check the PROJECTS page to see if / when you can see it next). In recent times though, Josh has found a new string to his 'cabaret bow’, that being that audiences seem to respond VERY well to his material, when delivered from an old lady (of course!) For more info on her, click HERE.
Lil’ Dribble, is the most AFFORDABLE OAP in Showbusiness, there’s nothing she won’t do for a Tena™! We actually have no idea why this is on Josh’s website… as it’s obviously nothing to do with him!? But anyway, this 'Cabaret Granny' is out of retirement, and bingo-winging her way back onto the entertainment scene! Expect to be wowed with cheeky magic, naughty comedy and camp showbiz numbers - from the most outrageous OAP on the scene!
Available for Comedy / Cabaret Nights, Corporate Events, After Dinner Entertainment - or not to be missed in her yearly residence, at York Maze’s HALLOWEEN EVENTS.
Like many, one of Josh’s first ever experiences of performing in a theatre was as a ‘Panto Babby’ in Berwick Kaler’s infamous York Theatre Royal Pantomime, back in 2007. Even then, at the tender age of 10, Josh knew he just HAD to, one day, be a Panto Comic. Jump forward 10 years (a decade which saw Josh lean more towards ‘proper acting’!?) and he had his first taste of comic-nectar: playing BUTTONS in the Chesterfield Pomegranate Theatre's “Cinderella”, opposite CBBC’s Naomi Wilkinson in the title role.
From this, he was honoured to be given the responsibility of ‘resident’ comic in Halifax’s Victoria Theatre Panto (taking the reigns from Neil Hurst, after his incredible 10 year stint). Josh loved every minute of his time there, in the 2019, 2021 and 2022 panto seasons. Two of which actually saw him nominated for ‘Best Comic’ for the UK Pantomime Association’s annual awards.
In 2020, York Theatre Royal bravely went ahead with staging a “Travelling Pantomime” (following all government guidelines to the letter!) which toured around small venues in every ward of the city. Josh was delighted to be asked to take the comic role in this project, especially in a year when the majority of the UK was deprived of their annual ‘Panto Fix’!
Jan - March of 2021 & 2022 have seen Josh’s first steps into the world of ‘Adult Panto’, and honestly, it’s everything you want it to be! London’s Brick Lane Music Hall stages a wonderful hybrid between a Panto and a ‘Carry On’ film, and he has had a lot of fun being involved. Treating adults like kids and getting to be MUCH naughtier!
He is very thankful to Paul Holman Associates, Imagine Theatre, York Theatre Royal and Brick Lane Music Hall for involving him in their ‘panto plans’ over the years, and is excited to see what the future holds, as he continues to learn & grow within this completely unique (but utterly wonderful) style of theatre.
