Taylor Ruddle: Wide Boy in Hanmer

Wide Boy noun

/ˈwaɪd ˌbɔɪ/

1. A man who lives by his wits, wheeling and dealing

2. A boy of wide physical dimensions

Taylor Ruddle has been a Wide Boy (1) since 2022 when he quit his office day job to pursue stand-up full time, and has been a Wide Boy (2) since 1999 when he discovered McDonalds. For the last 4 years Taylor has undertaken several odd showbiz adjacent jobs in order to keep the lights on and the minifridge full of coke zero. Things such as: Hosting quiz nights, musical bingo, DJing, "acting", clinical medical trials, voiceover, graphic design and attempting to become a children's entertainer despite finding kids "irritating and terrifying at the same time." Oh and he does a bit of stand-up too.

This show follows up from Taylor's last specials, Panic! At The Buffet and Ruddzilla which can be seen for FREE on YouTube!

SUPPORT SLOTS

Taylor opened for Aunty Donna in September 2025, David Correos in 2 South Island-wide tours in 2024 and 2025, Blake Pavey in 2024 and Joe Daymond in 2020.

AWARDS, WINNER

• Breakout Comedian of the South Island 2024 - NZ Comedy Guild

• Breakout Comedian of the South Island 2023 - NZ Comedy Guild

AWARDS, NOMINATED

• Best Visiting Comedian 2024 - Dunedin Comedy Awards

• Best Online Production 2024 (Ruddle Me This!) - NZ Comedy Guild

• Best Online Production 2023 (Ruddle Me This!) - NZ Comedy Guild

• Best Comic (Mul-TAY-Verse) - Nelson Fringe Festival 2023

• Breakout Comedian of the South Island 2021 - NZ Comedy Guild

REVIEWS

“Ruddle’s show was a fantastic investigation into the effects of anti-intellectualism in New Zealand, of self-realisation, and the true dangers of small-town Four Square checkouts.” - Bad Apple on Panic! At The Buffet

https://badapple.gay/2024/04/04/panic-at-the-buffet-a-response/