Since making a splash on the Australian comedy scene in mid-to-late 2005, the name Mark Gladman has become synonymous with clean, family and Christian comedy in Australia. Working Christian, corporate and mainstream clubs, venues and events, Mark has led the Australian charge in letting the nation know that FUNNY is the only ’F’ word you need in a comedy show. Unless you are talking about Fried Food, but that’s just semantics, isn’t it?
Mark has been a finalist in the Cougar New Comic of the Year 2005 only 8 weeks into his venture into comedy; and was a finalist in Triple J’s Raw Comedy Competition in 2006. He’d love to enter more competitions but he’s disqualified himself from most comps as he got booked up for paid gigs.
Mark has opened for for national headline acts; released his first comedy CD, "Live and Contagious" in September 2006; released his first book, "The 17 Irritating Laws of Followship" in November 2008; co-hosts a radio program, "Mark and Mal's Mad Rush to Midnite" weekdays on Radio 92.9 Toowoomba; is regularly utilised as an MC/Host; and regularly speaks and performs in schools speaking at Chapel services and running comedy workshops and leadership seminars In 2008, Mark debuted at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, with 700+ people coming to see him perform.
The Melbourne Age said of him, "Gladman is the best... His delivery is tight, his rapport with the audience is warm, and he’s a dab hand at the guitar as well." Another reviewer said Mark was "...polished, confident, upbeat and high energy..." Working clean, Mark is also in demand in the corporate arena and in schools, and is often asked to combine his speaking and comedy skills to deliver inspiring, powerful and hilariously fun "Motivational Comedy" presentations on a variety of subjects.
Mark is also a regular speaker in the Christian arena at conferences, camps and churches doing straight comedy shows to presenting powerful messages and seminars laced with humour. In all three arenas (mainstream clubs and venues/Christian and Church/Corporate), Mark is regularly conducting comedy workshops for presenters, sales people, students, speakers/preachers and for general professional development. In late 2007, Mark completed the design of a program to be called "Laughing on the Inside" and "Laughing on the Outside" to deliver comedy workshops to young people at risk in the community, and in youth detention.
Mark uses the same material with both mainstream and Christian audiences, speaking of anything and everything (including God, the Bible and his Mother) from his warped but grounded Christian worldview. Mark has spoken in churches, coffee shops, festivals, comedy clubs and schools; at conferences, corporate events and seminars; as an MC, panelist, debater and comedian; doing funny messages to straight comedy shows; and runs stand-up comedy workshops.