About
Globally acclaimed comedy double-act Max Olesker and Ivan Gonzalez have been performing their intricate multi-character live comedy all over the world including the Adelaide Fringe, the Edinburgh Fringe (where their work has been nominated for Best Comedy), SXSW festival in Austin, Texas, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (nominated for Most Outstanding Show), as well as on tour throughout the UK. Their contagious charm, oddball humour and off-beat style has made their shows consistently named as ones to watch on the comedy circuit. Their live show The Reunion was such a hit in fact, that a three episode adaption of it was made for Channel 4 as part of their Comedy Blaps.
The talented duo are also creators of The Wrestling, (winner of Edinburgh Comedy Awards Panel Prize) in which the world’s best comedians learn to wrestle, and then step into the ring to battle it out with enormous pro wrestlers. Elsewhere, their BBC Radio 4 sitcom, The Casebook of Max & Ivan, has attracted guest stars including Matt Lucas, June Whitfield, Jessica Hynes, Reece Shearsmith and Mark Heap. On screen they are most recognisable as as the near-mute executives Ben and Jerry in the BBC’s BAFTA TV award winning mockumentary W1A.
Watch Max & Ivan: The Reunion
Get together with Max and Ivan for their narrative sketch comedy tale of love, loss and shatterproof rulers. A very British ‘high school’ story, complete with flashbacks and expertly woven callbacks, The Reunion sends up those all too familiar American high-school clichés with a feel-good ‘80s-teen-movie narrative, all exquisitely delivered by a duo at the top of their game.
See Max & Ivan Live
You can find details on upcoming Max and Ivan shows here.
Bio
MAX OLESKER: As far as he knows, Max is the only Jewish man in show business (though he’s not checked this). He is Contributing Editor at Esquire magazine, was once the youngest professional wrestler in the UK, and spent three months in grueling pursuit of spornosexuality. Acting credits include Blandings (BBC1), Pompidou (BBC Two), Drifters (Channel 4), Witless (BBC3) and Peep Show (Channel 4).
IVAN GONZALEZ: 5 foot 2, eyes of blue, his tiny teeth make it hard to chew; Ivan* hails from The Wirral, via Spain. He is a founding member of theatre company non zero one, and improvises with The 838. Acting credits include Badults (BBC3), The Mimic (Channel 4), Pompidou (BBC Two) and Drunk Histories (Comedy Central).
Alongside Graham Dickson, both Max and Ivan are co-founders of The Free Association, one of London’s premier impro schools.