Nicolas Kent

Director

Agent

Nicki Stoddart nstoddart@unitedagents.co.uk +44 (0) 20 3214 0869

Biography

NICOLAS KENT is a freelance theatre, television and radio director. He started his career at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1967 as a ABC TV trainee Theatre director going on to be Artistic Director of the Watermill Theatre in Newbury in 1970. He was then Associate Director of the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh before becoming a co-director of the Oxford Playhouse Company 1976 – 1981.

He was appointed Artistic Director of the Tricycle Theatre in London in 1984 and was there for almost 30 years. In 2006 he was the recipient of an Evening Standard Special Theatre Award for “Pioneering Political Theatre” for his work there. Whilst working at the Tricycle his production of Bloody Sunday won an Olivier Award, and his productions of Guantanamo (which later transferred to the West End and off-Broadway)

and the 7 hour trilogy The Great Game (which later toured the USA) were both nominated for Olivier Awards. On leaving the Tricycle Theatre in 2012 he was awarded the Freedom of the Borough of Brent, and a Lifetime Achievement award from the Theatre Managers’ Association as well as the Peter Brook Empty Space Lifetime Achievement Award.

Whilst at the Tricycle Theatre he co-produced in the West End: Stones in His Pockets by Marie Jones,The 39 Steps by Patrick Barlow, The Price and Broken Glass by Arthur Miller and Ain’t Misbehavin and later in 2013

Shakespeare’s Much Ado about Nothing with Vanessa Redgrave & James Earl Jones directed by Mark Rylance.

He has directed plays in well over 150 theatres around the world including Japan, East Africa, the Far East Bangladesh, Iraq, Egypt, Seoul, Hong Kong and the USA.

Credits

Radio

Production	Company	Notes
SUNRISE 2022	BBC Radio 4	by Amit Gupta
THIS IS YOUR COUNTRY TOO 2019	BBC Radio 4	Series of 5 plays about Child refugees As Deviser
THE PRICE OF OIL 2015	BBC Radio 4	Week long series of 7 plays as Deviser for BBC Radio 4 (repeated 2023) and as Director: STAND FIRM, YOU CADS and BABY OIL by Jonathan Myerson, LOOKING FOR BILLY by Nigel Williams and NO TWO DAYS by Joy Wilkinson
THE LETTER OF LAST RESORT 2013	BBC Radio 4	Wri. David Grieg (based on his stage play) Prod. Lu Kemp
THE CONFLICT IS OVER 2010	BBC Radio 4	By Michael Eaton
CALLED TO ACCOUNT 2007	BBC Radio 4	By Richard Norton-Taylor
BLOODY SUNDAY 2006	BBC Radio 4	By Richard Norton-Taylor Irish Radio Drama Award winner
SREBRENICA 1997	BBC World Service	As Writer
NUREMBERG 1996	BBC World Service	By Richard Norton-Taylor from the original Tricycle Theatre stage production

Television

Production	Company	Notes
GRENFELL: SCENES FROM THE INQUIRY 2022	Channel 4	By Richard Norton-Taylor 2 x 1 hour+ episodes.
JUSTIFYING WAR: SCENES FROM THE HUTTON INQUIRY 2022	BBC 3 TV	By Richard Norton-Taylor
THE COLOUR OF JUSTICE - THE STEPHEN LAWRENCE INQUIRY 1998	BBC2	By Richard Norton-Taylor
HALF THE PICTURE: SCENES FROM THE ARMS TO IRAQ INQUIRY 1993	BBC 2 TV	By Richard Norton-Taylor & John McGrath
PENTECOST 1993	BBC2	By Stewart Parker. Play of the week
BORN IN THE RSA 1985	Channel 4 TV Play	As Co-Producer By Barney Simon
PLAYBOY OF THE WEST INDIES 1984	BBC2	By Mustapha Matura
SHARING TIME (2 Episodes) 1983	BBC 2 TV	OCEANS APART by Olwen Wymark & THE PRODIGAL GRANDFATHER by Donald Churchill (1983) Sharing Time series: 2 x 50 episodes
THE WORKSHOP 1983	BBC 2 TV	By Jean Claude Grumberg-translated by Tom Kempinski Play of the week
MACBETH 1974	Iraq State TV	London Shakespeare Group production recorded in the studio in Baghdad

Theatre

Production	Company	Notes
THE MOST PRECIOUS OF GOODS 2024	Marylebone Theatre, London	By Jean-Claude Grumberg Translator: Nicolas Kent
GRENFELL SYSTEM FAILURE 2023	The Playground Theatre	By Richard Norton-Taylor & Nicolas Kent Available on the Guardian Big Listen 8.09.24
PLAYBOY OF THE WEST INDIES - THE MUSICAL 2022	Birmingham Rep	By Mustapha Matura
GRENFELL: VALUE ENGINEERING 2021	Tabernacle Theatre & Birmingham Rep; and as 2 Episodes for Channel 4 TV	By Nicholas Kent & Richard Norton-Taylor
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2019	The Fugard Theatre, Cape Town	By David Greig, adapted by David Kramer
MARK THOMAS CHECK-UP OUR NHS @ 70 2018	Traverse Edinburgh (Fringe First) and on tour; London - Arcola Theatre & BAC and command performance for the Chief Medical officer for England - Department of Health
ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN? 2017	National Theatre at the Vaudeville Theatre & The Public Theatre, New York	By Nicolas Kent
ANOTHER WORLD: LOSING OUR CHILDREN TO ISLAMIC STATE 2016	National Theatre /Temporary Theatre	Play by Gillian Slovo developed with Nicolas Kent from his original idea
DRONES BABY DRONES 2016	Arcola Theatre	By Ron Hutchinson, Christina Lamb & David Greig
THE NIGHTMARES OF CARLOS FUENTES 2014	Arcola Theatre	Play by Rashid Razaq
THE LETTERS OF LAST RESORT 2012	Traverse Theatre also command performance for the Admiralty	By David Greig
THE RIOTS 2012	Bernie Grant Theatre, Tottenham (Time Out Award)	By Gillian Slovo
DIRECTING CREDITS - TRICYCLE THEATRE
THE BOMB - FIRST BLAST: PROLIFERATION (1940 - 1992) 2012	Tricycle Theatre	Cycle of five short plays
THE BOMB - SECOND BLAST: PRESENT DANGERS (1992 - 2012) 2012	Tricycle Theatre	Cycle of five short plays
TACTICAL QUESTIONING: SCENES FROM THE BAHA MOUSA INQUIRY 2011	Tricycle Theatre	Verbatim play by Richard Norton-Taylor
THE GREAT GAME: AFGHANISTAN - PART 3 (1996 - 2009) ENDURING FREEDOM 2009	Tricycle Theatre	by Ben Ockrent, Abi Morgan, Richard Norton-Taylor, Richard Bean & Simon Stephens
THE GREAT GAME: AFGHANISTAN - PART 2 (1979 - 1996) COMMUNISM, THE MUJAHIDEEN AND THE TALIBAN 2009	Tricycle Theatre	by David Edgar, Siba Shakib, J T Rogers, David Greig & Colin Teevan
THE GREAT GAME: AFGHANISTAN - PART 1 (1842 - 1930) INVASIONS AND INDEPENDENCE 2009	Tricycle Theatre	by Siba Shakib, Stephen Jeffries, Ron Hutchinson, Amit Gupta & Joy Wilkinson
DOUBT 2007	Tricycle Theatre	by John Patrick Shanley
DARFUR - HOW LONG IS NEVER?	Tricycle Theatre	by Carlo Gebler & Jennifer Farmer
WALK HARD	Tricycle Theatre	by Abram Hill
JUSTIFYING WAR	Tricycle Theatre	by Richard Norton-Taylor
TEN ROUNDS	Tricycle Theatre	by Carlo Gebler
THE PROMISE	Tricycle Theatre	New version by Nick Dear
DREYFUS	Tricycle Theatre	by Jean-Claude Grumber; translation by Jack Rosenthal
THE COLOUR OF JUSTICE - THE STEPHEN LAWRENCE INQUIRY	Tricycle Theatre	by Richard Norton-Taylor; Time Out Award
DANCE OF DEATH	Tricycle Theatre	by August Strindberg; version by Carlo Gebler
RWANDA	Tricycle Theatre	by Yemi Osofisan
EX-YU	Tricycle Theatre	by Goran Stefanovski
HAITI	Tricycle Theatre	by Keith Reddin
NUREMBERG, HALF THE PICTURE	Tricycle Theatre	by Richard Norton-Taylor & John McGrath; Time Out Award
MACBETH	Tricycle Theatre	by William Shakespeare
FACTORY GIRLS	Tricycle Theatre	by Frank McGuinness
ONCE A CATHOLIC	Tricycle Theatre	by Mary O’Malley
THE HOSTAGE	Tricycle Theatre	by Brendan Behan
A LOVE SONG FOR ULSTER	Tricycle Theatre	by Bill Morrison; 6 hour trilogy
TROUBLE IN MIND	Tricycle Theatre	by Alice Childress
A FREE COUNTRY	Tricycle Theatre	by Jean-Claude Grumberg; translation by Tom Kempinski
A LONG WAY FROM HOME	Tricycle Theatre	by Yemi Ajibade
ALL OR NOTHING AT ALL	Tricycle Theatre	by Yemi Ajibade
THE ONE O'CLOCK WORLD	Tricycle Theatre	by Leigh Jackson
LONELY COWBOY	Tricycle Theatre	by Alfred Fagon
DIRECTING CREDITS - OTHER
THE GREAT GAME 2010 – 2011	Toured to the Guthrie Theatre, Minneapolis, Berkeley Rep, Shakespeare Theatre, Washington, Public Theatre as well as a Command performance for Pentagon staff in February 2011	a 7 hour trilogy (Olivier award nomination) by Richard Bean, Lee Blessing, David Edgar, David Greig, Amit Gupta, Ron Hutchinson, Stephen Jeffreys,Abi Morgan, Ben Ockrent, Simon Stephens, Colin Teevan, Joy Wilkinson
GUANTANAMO 2004 – 2006	Ambassador's Theatre, London; Culture Project, New York; Brava Theatre, San Francisco	by Gillian Slovo & Victoria Brittain (Olivier Award Nomination) Special Performance in the US House of Congress, Capitol Hill
BLOODY SUNDAY 2005	Belfast Opera House & Abbey Theatre - Dublin Theatre Festival	by Richard Norton-Taylor (Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement)
THE COLOUR OF JUSTICE - THE STEPHEN LAWRENCE INQUIRY 1999 – 2000	Victoria Palace Theatre and National Theatre, London and UK Tour	by Richard Norton-Taylor
SREBENICA 1996	Belfast Festival, Tricycle Theatre & National Theatre	by Nicolas Kent
AIN'T MISBEHAVIN' 1995	Lyric Theatre - Shaftesbury Avenue, London	By Richard Maltby Jnr
HALF THE PICTURE - THE SCOTT ARMS TO IRAQ INQUIRY 1994	The Tricycle and Freeway Films for the BBC - the first play ever to be performed in Houses of Parliament	by Richard Norton-Taylor & John McGrath
PENTECOST 1989	Lyric Hammersmith & BBC2 TV	by Stewart Parker
TRINIDAD SISTERS 1988	Donmar Warehouse, London	By Mustapha Matura
THE GREAT WHITE HOPE 1986 – 1987	The Tricycle Theatre, RSC, Mermaid Theatre - London	by Howard Sackler; Tim Out Award
PLAYBOY OF THE WEST INDIES 1985	Oxford Playhouse, Tricycle Theatre (1984, 1994, 2004), Chicago International Theatre Festival (1988) & BBC2 TV (1985)	by Mustapha Matura
THE WORKSHOP 1981 – 1993	The Hampstead Theatre, London (1981) & The American Jewish Theatre, New York (1993)	By Jean-Claude Grumberg translated by Tom Kempinski
NO END OF BLAME 1981	Royal Court, London	By Howard Barker
TRIAL RUN 1980	Young Vic, London	By Nigel Williams
LOVE OF A GOOD MAN 1979	Royal Court, London	By Howard Barker
CLASS ENEMY 1978	Young Vic, London	By Nigel Williams
YOU ARE MY HEART'S DELIGHT 1975	Soho Poly Theatre, London	By C.P. Taylor

Nicolas Kent

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