Max Olesker is a writer, comedian and author. He is a Contributing Editor at Esquire and writes for publications including The Times, Times LUXX, Longreads, and The Nudge.

His first book, Making the Cut: An Unorthodox Love Story, was published by Ebury/Penguin in 2026 and has been adapted into an acclaimed live show produced by the Soho Theatre.

When Max fell in love at 3am in an Edinburgh bar, he didn’t expect it would lead to one of the most demanding religious conversions in the world.

Already Jewish — just not, it turned out, the “right” kind — he embarked on an Orthodox conversion in order to marry the woman he loved.

What followed was a journey through faith, identity, bureaucracy, family, doubt and devotion: by turns excruciating, absurd and unexpectedly joyful.

Published by Ebury/Penguin in 2026, Making the Cut was subsequently adapted for the stage.

THE SHOW

“A hilarious, moving treat of a show.

★★★★

— The Times

“England’s answer to David Sedaris.”

— Andrew O’Hagan

When Max fell in love at 3am in an Edinburgh bar, he didn’t expect it would lead to one of the most demanding religious conversions in the world.

Already Jewish — just not, it turned out, the “right” kind — he embarked on an Orthodox conversion in order to marry the woman he loved.

What followed was a journey through faith, identity, bureaucracy, family, doubt and devotion — by turns excruciating, absurd and unexpectedly joyful.

Making the Cut is a memoir about love, belonging, family and the lengths we go to in order to build a life with someone.

PRAISE FOR MAKING THE CUT

'England's answer to David Sedaris' - Andrew O’Hagan

'Very funny and utterly compelling' - Adam Kay

'Max Olesker is a comic genius and an absolute joy to read.' - Viv Groskop

'A magnetic read from an exquisite writer.' - Deborah Frances-White

'A funny and fascinating true tale of family, Jewishness, and the things we do for love' - Phil Wang

'A beautifully rendered book, equal parts surprising, hilarious and hefty. A specific story that’s somehow universal - and unorthodox in every way but one' - Alex Edelman

LIVE DATES

Soho Theatre, Dean Street

Nov 3rd - Nov 21st January 9th

UPDATE: Due to popular demand, the Soho Theatre run has been doubled in length, now running until January 9th.

Max is a Contributing Editor at Esquire, Features Editor at The Nudge, and writes features for publications including The Times, Observer, Times LUXX, Wallpaper, Time Out, Men’s Health and Longreads. His work covers a broad range of subjects, with particular interests including male identity, from the ongoing evolution of men’s relationship with their bodies to their faces; communities and social history, from London’s last remaining traditional bathhouse to its oldest family-run café; subcultures, including the race to save a secret outsider-art environment; and travel, with stories filed from Japan, Italy, Singapore, Thailand and South America.

Max is one half of multi-award-winning comedy double-act Max & Ivan.

They have created sitcoms for television and radio, scripted podcasts and internationally touring live shows, performing everywhere from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Melbourne International Comedy Festival to SXSW.

Their work includes:

The Max & Ivanthology

6x live specials |NextUp / Amazon Prime

Deep Heat

6-part TV sitcom | ITVX

The Reunion

3-part series | Channel 4

Fugitives

8-part podcast thriller | Acast

Sound Deals

Improvised podcast | Headgum

Max is also the creator of Clash of the Comics, the world’s number one (and, incidentally, only) pro-wrestling league featuring your favourite comedians.

Inspired by Max’s misspent youth as the UK’s youngest pro-wrestler, Max Voltage ‘The Human Dynamo’ (true story), the show won the Edinburgh Comedy Awards Panel Prize, and has seen a selection of the world’s greatest comedians enter the ring and do battle.

Clash of The Comics' most recent special, filmed at the legendary Hammersmith Apollo, can be watched HERE.

BOOKS & LITERARY

Georgia Garrett at RCW

COMEDY & ACTING

Hannah Layton at InterTalent

WRITING & EDITORIAL

For commissions and editorial enquiries: