I started my career as a professional actor in 1987 when I left the University of Warwick with a degree in Theatre Studies and Dramatic Arts and was invited to join a touring theatre company based in Leamington Spa. I moved down to London a year or so later to launch myself on the glamourous world of British theatre by way of two years spent singing in Residential Care Homes to get my Equity Card. That achieved, I then energetically committed myself to over 20 years of theatre work and a bit of TV as well. On stage I have played all manner of roles, from tragic heroines to pantomine boys. I have often been found multi-tasking as an actor-musician by singing, playing instruments and acting all at the same time - in one show I played at least 4 instruments and 8 characters and wore 6 different wigs. I've appeared on illustrious stages like the Royal National Theatre and the Purcell Rooms and at small fringe venues like the Kings Head and The Gate. I have appeared at International Festivals and at Repertory Theatres. I have probably toured to almost every town in the UK and on the way have worked with wonderful directors like Katie Mitchell, Phyllida Lloyd and Tim Pigott-Smith.
Acting Agent GDM - Grant David Management
grantdavidmanagement@googlemail.com
Telephone +44 (0)20 7193 1894 / +44 (0)7930 331 373
Spotlight: www.spotlight.com/NicolaBurnettSmith
Screen work includes Strathblair, Emmerdale, The Bill, The Best Man, Silent Witness, Perfect.
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Othello and Hallisinia for the Royal National Theatre, Romeo and Juliet at the English Theatre Vienna, The Royal Hunt of the Sun for Tim Pigott-Smith's Compass Theatre, Sunset Song at Citizens Theatre for TAG Theatre Company at Edinburgh International Festival and Glasgow Mayfest, William Tell for Natural Theatre Company in Hamburg and Purcell Rooms, Damn'd Jacobite Bitches at the Citizens Theatre Glasgow, Women of Troy and Vassa Zheleznova for Katie Mitchell at Gate Theatre, Titania in Midsummer Night's Dream and The Fairy Godmother in Cinderella at Brunton Theatre Musselburgh, Prince Charming in Cinderella for the Royal Theatre Northampton, My Cousin Rachel, Noises Off and Dangerous Corner in the inaugural repertory season of the Theatre by the Lake in Keswick in 2000, Jekyll and Hyde for Major Road Theatre Company, Clod Ensemble's Silver Swan at BAC Opera Festival, Jack and the Beanstalk at the Shaw Theatre Euston Rd, The Magic Story Book and Hot Italian Nights for the Oxford Stage Company, Pinocchio for Oxfordshire Touring Theatre Company, A Christmas Carol at Dukes Playhouse Lancaster, Sweet Charity for Handstand Productions Liverpool, Bathsheba in Far From the Madding Crowd at the Kings Head London.
includes short films, documentaries and educational CDs.
For demos: http://voice123.com/nicolaburnettsmith
Here is a review from Voice123 of recent voiceover work: "Nicola was an absolute joy to work with. Professional, flexible, responsive to direction and at the same time, she kept us laughing between takes. The script we gave her was challenging, but she delivered it with just the right tone. I highly recommend Nicola."
Corporate Video Client, Voice123
The following voiceover is for the Open University: Climate change and the importance of COP26
Full article: https://www.open.edu/openlearn/COP26
Nicola Burnett Smith...
'...is particularly good as the engagingly rude Ann Mackintosh' - The Guardian
'...gives a splendid account of the plain-speaking Ann Mackintosh ... a fascinating and hugely entertaining show' - The Mail on Sunday
'Mackintosh is played with fabulous gin-swilling, blue-blooded ribaldry by Nicola Burnett Smith.' - The Scotsman
'Nicola Burnett Smith has the most fun part and she commands the theatre with passionate tirades, Jacobite songs and even a little opera.' - Metro
(Damn'd Jacobite Bitches at Glasgow Citizens Theatre)
'Nicola Burnett Smith is smart of movement and strong of voice as the Fairy Godmother, leaving one wondering why we don't see more of this actress on Scottish stages.' - The List (Brunton Theatre)
'There's the odd moment of genuine brilliance. Nicola Burnett Smith...gets them all under her spell' - Edinburgh Evening News
(Cinderella at Brunton Theatre)
'...is magnificent in her role as the beautiful, spirited Italian.' - The Herald (Theatre by the Lake)
'...excels as Olwyn Peel.' The Stage (Theatre by the Lake)
'The performances utilize clockwork precision to deliver the appearance of total chaos... brash, loud, silly ... the perfect night out.'
The Independent
(William Tell, Natural Theatre Company)
'Sarah Carew is sensitively played by Nicola Burnett Smith...a clever, many-faceted production.' The Stage (Jekyll and Hyde)
'...jumps convincingly through endless hoops of pain as Bathsheba.'- Time Out (Kings Head)
'...gives the finest performance as a strong, steel-hearted Lady Macbeth.' - The Stage (Wycombe Swan)
'...shows star quality with a performance that lights up the stage.' -Evening Sentinel
'Nicola Burnett Smith and Jill Myers really catch the eye when they sing and dance together. They are both wonderfully, lip-smackingly raunchy.' - The Stage
'A fine cast of actor-musicians -- notably Nicola Burnett Smith and Jill Myers.' - New Forest Post
(Sweet Charity)
'Nicola Burnett Smith sings the narration beautifully' - Financial Times (Oxford Stage Company)
'...is exceptionally impressive as Medea'
-What's On (Great Northern Theatre)
'...gives a performance of great power and dignity as Medea'
- Time Out (Great Northern Theatre)
'...Thomson's actors carve an effective path through Shakespeare's exquisite text, led by Nicola Burnett Smith's impressive Titania.'
- The Scotsman
' the traditional Titania/Hippolyta (Nicola Burnett Smith) and Oberon/Theseus (Neil McKinven) doubling show us the appropriate rational and pre-rational divided self with real psychological dexterity.' The List
'Nicola Burnett Smith as the bumpkinish wife, Tanya, puts in a versatile performance, switching adroitly from wedding joy to lonely frustration.' Time Out
(Brunton Theatre)
'at the end of the six-and-a-half hour trilogy... the cast looked exhausted but triumphant and the audience rose to its feet and roared approval ... best performances ... Nicola Burnett Smith ...' - The Telegraph
'... an outstanding performance given by Nicola Burnett Smith as Kirsty Strachan.' The Stage
'ensemble acting at its best... truly captivating.' Edinburgh Evening News
(The Scots Quair trilogy at Edinburgh International Festival)
© 2018 Nicola Burnett Smith