Nicolas Kent
Director
Film, TV & Theatre
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.
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 |
THE PRICE OF OIL 2015 | BBC Radio 4 | Week long series of 7 plays as Deviser for BBC Radio 4 |
THE LETTER OF LAST RESORT 2013 | BBC Radio 4 | Wri. David Grieg (based on his stage play) |
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 |
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 |
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. |
BORN IN THE RSA 1985 | Channel 4 TV Play | As Co-Producer |
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) |
THE WORKSHOP 1983 | BBC 2 TV | By Jean Claude Grumberg-translated by Tom Kempinski |
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 |
GRENFELL SYSTEM FAILURE 2023 | The Playground Theatre | By Richard Norton-Taylor & Nicolas Kent |
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) |
GUANTANAMO 2004 - 2006 | Ambassador's Theatre, London; Culture Project, New York; Brava Theatre, San Francisco | by Gillian Slovo & Victoria Brittain (Olivier Award Nomination) |
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 |