Ep28: Nigel West, professional creative and West End director.

Nigel joined the Bristol Old Vic company at the Theatre Royal in 1983 where he stayed for three years working on 29 productions ranging from ‘RICHARD II’ to the musical ‘JUDY’ which he also worked on when it transferred to London’s Strand Theatre in 1986. 
 
After a season on the Theatre Of Comedy production of ‘ROOKERY NOOK’ at London's Shaftesbury Theatre he joined the Olivier award winning musical ‘ME AND MY GIRL’ at the Adelphi Theatre and became Associate Director in March 1988 establishing a 10 year association with director Mike Ockrent, going on to direct the first sell out British national tour. He has also acted as Artistic Consultant on several foreign productions, and has directed the show in Stockholm, (in Swedish) Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Receiving best director nominations for the Canadian and Australian productions. 

Nigel then became Associate director of the Tony and Olivier award winning 'CRAZY FOR YOU' at the Prince Edward Theatre, London and directed the UK tour and Australian Production of the show. He also acted as artistic supervisor for the South African production. 

He then directed 'CLOSER THAN EVER' for Bergen Film, Stage and Television, Holland and a sell out season of  'SHE LOVES ME' for the Drayton Festival Theatre in Canada, choreographed by Stephen Mear.

He was UK Associate Director of the Olivier award winning Disney's 'BEAUTY AND THE BEAST' at London's' Dominion Theatre and resident Director of the Tony and Olivier Award winning musical revival of Kander and Ebb's 'CHICAGO' at the Adelphi Theatre, which he also directed in Buenos Aires, Mexico City and Dusseldorf. 

His own productions include a national tour of Stephen King's 'MISERY', 'JUST FOR JOE' a one woman show starring Brenda Cochrane at the Edinburgh festival and subsequent Scottish Tour and  Dennis Potters 'BLUE REMEMBERED HILLS' for the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry. He has also directed various pantomimes at Glasgow Kings Theatre, Birmingham Hippodrome and Coventry.

‘THE PRODUCERS’ for Susan Stroman – A US tour (3 years) including a season at Harrah’s Casino, Atlantic City, ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ for the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton which subsequently toured the United States (four years) including a season at MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, New York City, the first German speaking production of ‘THE PRODUCERS’ re opening the newly renovated Ronacher Theatre in Vienna Austria which subsequently played Berlin!! 

Revisiting ‘CHICAGO‘ over recent years directing productions in Australia, Singapore, Korea, Madrid, Barcelona, Spanish tour and Cambridge and Garrick Theatre, London. 

He directed a new production of Disney’s and Cameron Mackintosh’s ‘MARY POPPINS' in Ontario, Canada which  received a 'best production' nomination, the highly acclaimed production of Susan Stoman’s ‘SCOTTSBORO BOYS’ Young Vic Theatre and Garrick Theatre, London and most recently, ‘THE PRODUCERS’ US Tour, associate director to Susan Stroman / Mel Brooks “YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN” Garrick Theatre London,  “ALADDIN” Starring Elaine C Smith. Kings Theatre, Glasgow and he produced, wrote and hosted ‘A Wee Blether’ with Gregor Fisher which was a two hour chat show.