Nicholas Barton-Wines – by Michael Kelly
What’s in a title?
I direct. I devise. I write. I dramaturg. I facilitate.
I make theatre.
General CV
Examples of Writing
Originally from Essex, I’m now based in Glasgow after training for my BA Acting at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
I’m drawn to stories that are innately theatrical; tales of strange places where the rules aren’t quite the same as here and now. Sometimes these places are real, and sometimes not. I aim to tell exciting stories that capture the imagination, encourage reflection and curiosity in how we live, and spark conversation between us all about the complicated issues we experience outside the theatre.
My work is tied to a strong narrative, is physical, visual, and almost always devised. I am heavily inspired by graphic novels and illustration, and this is most present in the movement of my work. I like to create collaboratively, and I’m excited by the areas where disciplines overlap to unlock new ways we can share ideas.
Current Practice
Recently I have been working with Kenneth MacLeod and Laurie Motherwell within a new collective, Bandwidth, whose creative process places design in a co-leader position, deviating from the traditional director-led/script-led processes where design is added later. By positioning direction, design, and playwriting as equal instigators, simultaneously leading and responding throughout, we believe our unique structure creates compelling, innovative, and visually-striking ways we can tell stories. You can find out more about our current work here.
I also co-lead Movers Group with Sarah Miele, a collective of professionals who use movement in their work – directors, choreographers, makers, and performers – which offers space to share, explore, and maintain movement practices. Meeting in Glasgow on the last Friday of each month, the members of Movers Group offer ideas or practices they would like to share and explore with the rest of the group during a session. The other Movers in the room explore this with the monthly sharer, in turn maintaining everyone’s movement practice. We recognise accessible and sustainable movement sessions are often limited, so this group is entirely free to join. We are a warm and committed group always open to new members, so please feel free to pop me an email if you’d like to find out more.
Upcoming
Benched (Working Title) – Shooting summer 2019 – Writer/Director/Producer
Forelska – A new international physical performance exploring the chemistry of love for teenagers by Kompani Morell – R&D in September 2019 in Norway – Director
Satellites – Previews late 2019 – Director
NoMa – Previews early 2020 – Director/Co-Creator
Background
I began my career working as part of the Mercury Theatre Company, a rep company in Colchester staging modern classics. It is this grounding that built the foundations of my values in outward looking, inclusive, community-engaged theatre while continually striving for excellence. I shadowed, assisted, and worked in many departments within the theatre: I believe it is very important to know the whole machine in order to understand how your cog best fits in. As well a numerous assistant director roles on main-stage productions at the Mercury, I undertook roles in stage management, community and education, ultimately directing and producing new work. During my studies at RCS I took this one step further with a placement at National Theatre Scotland shadowing Laurie Sansom, artistic director, and the senior management team for four months. My skill set is broad, and my understanding is interconnected.
Further Reading
You can read my interview with Creative Scotland here.
You can read my interview with YTAS here.
Keep up to date with my latest developments @nicholasbw.
If you would like to chat about a project I have worked on, or a project to be, I’m always open to conversations and coffees.
Header Photo Credits:
Main – Mihaela Bodlovic
About – Amy Kennedy
Workshops – Andy Catlin/YTAS
