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News
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Here
you will find up to the minute, regularly updated news of what I have been
doing, what I am doing, and what I will be doing. See my Photo Gallery
page for my latest updated headshots. |
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2010 |
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July-August: I am collaborating with old
friend and colleague Jack Klaff on his one-man show for the
Edinburgh Festival, Jack The Knife. (See picture top left)
Working hand-in-hand with Colin Watkeys, we are both trying to keep Jack's
imagination in check as he devises and develops his material for one of
his most challenging performances ever.
For more information, click here. There will be a further
opportunity to see the show at The Drill Hall in London later in the year
- details to follow.
This year I’ve joined the London
Gypsy Orchestra on Bass Clarinet. And in April, orchestra leader
Gundula Gruen invited me to play with her five-piece gypsy band
Tatcho Drom on Bb clarinet and vocals. (Click on picture, bottom left) So far gigs have included the
Serbian Embassy, Battersea Square, Ocean in Hackney, Ritzy Cinema Upstairs
in Brixton and Quecumba in Battersea. More pictures
on my Music page.
I’m still playing bass clarinet with Monster
Bobby’s Little Orchestra – we have recently performed at Brixton Jamm
and at a punk wedding, with unique arrangements by Chris Guy of
songs by The Damn’d. There are appearances coming up at The Hangover
Lounge and at the Lexington. As a vocalist and soloist, I have in the
pipeline several musical cabaret projects with Chris Guy, so watch
this space! |
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2009 |
I’ve been asked to
do a voice-over for a film about the Galapagos Islands, to be shown
at the UNESCO conference. As a result I’ll be travelling to the
Galapagos Islands and Ecuador. Another notable voice-over job for a
charity, the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, they want me to be the
voice of two promotional films. Visit
www.lucyfaithfull.org or
view their film page here
December: I’m playing in the City Wind
Orchestra on Bb clarinet in their Winter Concert, repertoire including
Shostakovich and Prokofiev. I’ve also joined Monster Bobby’s Little
Orchestra with my bass clarinet, working on contemporary compositions.
Xperient LLP, the communication skills
partnership I set up with colleague Ian Sanders in 2007, is going from
strength to strength. We’ve launched our new website with excellent
photographs by Cordelia Donohoe - visit
www.xperient.co.uk
I continue as a Chair and Committee member of the
Professional Conduct Committee of the General Dental Council, adjudicating
on cases of alleged misconduct by Dental Professionals. |
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2008 |
Voice Demo -
I have recorded a professionally-produced demo with the help of
writer-director Jonathan Keeble. It includes various radio and TV
commercial voiceovers, nature programme/corporate commentary and a
dramatic extract. In standard and ‘street’ Scots, RP and Irish accents.
Visit
Voice123.com to listen
Justice -
a short film by Oliver Williams of Attain Media: I play the role of
Senior Intelligence Officer Christine Williams.
Clarinet - After all my
years as an actor-musician, for the past year I have taken up serious
study of the clarinet again with tutor Robbie Martin, undoing years of bad
habits, working my way up through the theory examinations and taking part
in competitions and festivals. I am currently revisiting Grade 6 theory
and have a shiny cup on the mantelpiece from the Hatfield Music Festival
Advanced Adult Class!
General Dental Council - I have been
appointed as a Chair of the General Dental Council’s Fitness to Practice
Panel, of which I have been a Lay Member for five years, representing the
public interest in cases of alleged professional misconduct. |
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2007 |
Xperient
LLP - I have set up my
own communication skills consultancy with colleague Ian Sanders. We
already have four clients: two law firms, a major insurance provider and a
public body.
Please see www.xperient.co.uk for more details
A Day Within - a film by Letitia and Venetia
Kidza. The film was made to raise awareness of
Jewish Care, a charity dealing with mental health issues. I play the role
of Louisa, the imaginary muse of one of the residents. A copy of the film
is available.
Red Hood – a short film by Navin Dev.
A psychological thriller in which I play ‘Red’, Little Red Riding Hood
when she has grown up and had a daughter of her own.
Click here for the website
Magistrate’s Training Video
- So You Need a Warrant?
for Mike Fowler of Axiom Video. I play a Magistrate who is awakened late
at night by a policeman.
Stills Photo Shoot for
photographer Ian Robson: the photos were used extensively on the website
of a healthcare charity. I play the concerned mother of a young woman. |
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July-Sept 2006 |
Emmerdale ITV -
Dr Pam Bradshaw returns to Emmerdale’s local hospital for two more
storylines involving the cast in dramatic house explosions and domestic
accidents. Directed by Haldane Duncan and Duncan Foster. |
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June-July 2006 |
Radio Café BBC
Radio Scotland -
I was asked to appear as a guest on the programme to discuss my work as a
voice artist and was then invited to return to discuss the new book ‘The
Human Voice’ with the author, Anne Karpf. |
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February 2006 |
Presenting
videos for
www.cognac.co.uk -
For Cognac I am the presenter of various information videos for their new
website. Despite filming in an unheated garage in Letchworth with snow
dripping down the walls and an off-centre autocue, I manage to look quite
warm and not too squint-eyed. |
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2006 |
Corporate:
As an Associate of
Impromptu Interactive Consultancy,
www.impromptu.co.uk, I have been working as a communication skills
consultant, facilitator and role-player in the public and private sector.
Most recently I have been developing scenarios for senior management
coaching skills training at AstraZeneca in Brussels, facilitating at
Barclays Wealth in the City of London, performing at a leadership
conference for Vodafone in Dublin and playing the role of a Chair of a
Strategic Health Authority for the NHS Appointments Commission in Leeds. |
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March 2006 |
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The Best Man - ITV (Touchpaper TV)
Screening on ITV1 on Monday 20th and Tuesday 21st March at 9pm |
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June 2005 |
A two-part thriller written by Russell Lewis,
directed by Alex Pillai, with Toby Stephens, Keeley Hawes and Richard
Coyle. I am playing the role of the Manageress of the Honeymoon Hotel
where the three protagonists meet and unravel a mystery from their past.
Filming in May/June on location on the banks of Loch Fyne. |
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March 2005 |
Silent Witness IX - 'The Meaning of Death' - BBC
Written by Rhidian Brook and directed by Bryn
Higgins. I am playing the role of the Oncologist caring for Tom Wimber.
Filming March 2005 - Transmission date tbc |
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Christmas 2004 |
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Quest - the Legend of the Green Knight
in The Big Top on Clapham Common
Written by Carolyn Spedden and directed by
Charlotte Conquest. Apart from playing the roles of Guinevere and Nineve,
I am singing three solo songs written for the show by the songwriter of
the Medieval Babes. Featuring trick horse-riding, jousting, sword fights
and acrobatics, the show is suitable for all ages.
Go to
www.legendofquest.co.uk. |
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March 2004 |
The Vagina Monologues - ‘Because he liked to look at it’
On 6th March, a charity performance for Pucker
Up Productions at the Cottier Theatre in Glasgow as part of International
VDAY ('Till the Violence Stops), in aid of Glasgow North West Women's
Centre. Cast includes Nicola Wheeler & Vari Sylvester.
... Nicola Burnett Smith, a Scottish
theatre performer of rare skill who we see shamefully little of in our own
country Steve Cramer in The List |
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December 2003 |
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Cinderella
at The Brunton Theatre Musselburgh
Christmas 2003 I
was working in Scotland, appearing as the Fairy
Godmother in Cinderella
at The Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh. The show is
written and directed by Stuart Thomas with whom I worked in December of
2002 at the Citizen’s Theatre Glasgow, in his acclaimed new play, Damn’d Jacobite Bitches.
I last appeared at The Brunton in February
2002 as Titania & Hippolyta in
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
for director Mark Thompson.
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September 2003 |
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Romeo and Juliet at the English Theatre of Vienna
I have just returned from Austria
where I was playing Lady Capulet in Romeo and Juliet
(September
& October 2003).
Directed by Andrew Hall, the production
celebrated
the 40th
anniversary of the theatre, marked by
a special Gala Reception
with the British Ambassador at the British Embassy in Vienna. |
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August 2003 |
Morag in Perfect - BBC Television
A short film written by Jonathan
Goodfellow and directed by Anya Camilleri,
with Stephen Moyer as the homicidal
estate agent. Produced by
the Glasgow Comedy Unit - soon showing on BBC TV. The cast
also includes Roy
Sampson, Yvonne
O’Brien,
Ford Kiernan,
and Mark Cox. Watch
this space for a transmission date.
Shown at Film Festivals
throughout Europe
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Winter 2003 |
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'Colonel' Anne Mackintosh in Damn'd Jacobite BItches
at Glasgow Citizen's Theatre
The romantic mythology that surrounds Bonnie Prince
Charlie has concealed the influence of the forgotten Jacobite women
of the Rebellion. This is their story.
Written by Stuart Thomas and directed by Mary McCluskey.
Nicola Burnett
Smith is particularly good as the engagingly rude Ann Mackintosh who spars
splendidly with
Anne Marie Timoney’s Jenny Cameron
The Guardian
Nicola
Burnett Smith gives a splendid account of the
plain-speaking Ann
Mackintosh …
a fascinating and hugely entertaining show
Mail on
Sunday
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2002 |
Who Killed Simone
Valentine? -
Granada Television - a
Drama Documentary about a teenager, Simone Valentine,
who is considered to be ‘at risk’,
and her alleged neglect by Manchester Social
Services. I play the school psychologist who assesses Simone. Legal
problems
meant that the transmission of the programme
was suspended
until finally being broadcast in August 2002.
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