Who we are

Matt Pritchard is the creative force behind Lab Monkey Productions. Sixteen years after taking up magic as a teenage hobby, he's still passionate about it. He specialises in close-up magic, mentalism and stand-up comedy. Before switching to a career in creative communication and the performing arts he conducted atomic physics research at Durham University. During this time, apart from playing with stupidly powerful lasers, he was a principal performer with the city's improvised comedy troupe, contributed sketches to the Durham Revue and wrote for durham21.co.uk

In 2006/7 he underwent drama and Christian discipleship training at the Riverside School of Performing Arts (www.rspa.org.uk). This included conducting school assemblies, youth services, workshops and show tours. For two years after that he worked as an Education Officer at Thinktank, Birmingham's science museum, which involved writing and presenting science based shows to school groups. Currently he divides his time between magic performances, science communication activites and speaking at all-age church events.

For your peace of mind he has an up to date enhanced CRB police check and £10 million public liability insurance.

Awards

• Short listed for Best comedy show for In pursuit of Miss Adventure at Buxton Fringe festival 2011
• Short listed for Best comedy show for The man who cannot lose at Buxton Fringe festival 2010
• Stage magician of the year 2009 - FCMUK
• Short listed for Best comedy show for Parannoyance at Buxton Fringe festival 2009
• Close-up magician of the year 2008 - FCMUK
• Short listed for Best comedy show, Best comedian and Best new writing - for Something about Nothing at Buxton Fringe festival 2008
• Best solo comedy show - for Futurology Live! at Buxton Fringe festival 2007
• Postgraduate lecturer of the year 2004 - Institute of Physics

Lab Monkeys have performed at

• Manchester comedy and science festivals
• Camden fringe
• Oxfringe
• British science festival
• Wrexham science festival
• Buxton fringe festival
• Birmingham Comedy festival
• The BIG event
• Greenbelt
• Spring Harvest

Professional membership

• Equity
• Fellowship of Christian Magicians UK
• Institute of Physics
• British Interactive Group

Values

"Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away."
Antoine de Saint-Exupery