Jack Nurse Director and -Maker

Email: [email protected] Mobile: 07969652593 Website: www.jacknurse.com

BIOGRAPHY

Jack is a critically-acclaimed director and theatre-maker. He is the co-founder of based theatre company Wonder Fools. Jack’s work has been presented in across the UK including the Citizens Theatre, , , New Wolsey Theatre, , Camden People’s Theatre, HOME, New Diorama Theatre, Royal Conservatoire of and the Arches amongst others. Jack is a script reader for the Traverse Theatre and Bruntwood Prize.

Jack has led and assisted education and community projects during his training and since graduation, throughout Scotland for Wonder Fools and companies such as Citizens Theatre, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, A Moment’s Peace, and Sell A Door amongst others.

TRAINING

Royal Conservatoire of Scotland BA (Hons) Contemporary Performance Practice (2012-2016)

DIRECTOR (2017-19)

The Lost Elves (Upcoming) Citizens Theatre/Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (2019) Devised Show 549: Scots of the Spanish Civil War UK Tour (2019) by Jack Nurse and Robbie Gordon Wonder Fools/Citizens Theatre/Brunton Theatre (2018) The Mack Play, Pie & Pint/Traverse Theatre (2019) by Rob Drummond Birthright VAULT Festival (2019) by Bram Davidovich Lampedusa Citizens Theatre (2017) by Anders Lustgarten

The Coolidge Effect Wonder Fools (2017-present) by Jack Nurse and Robbie Gordon

ASSOCIATE/RESIDENT/STAFF DIRECTOR

Red Dust Road National /HOME (2019) Adaptation by Tanika Gupta; Dir. Dawn Walton o Associate Director Dr Dolittle Music and Lyrics (2018 – 2019) by Leslie Bricusse; Dir. Christopher Renshaw o Resident Director The Broons Sell A Door (2016) by Rob Drummond; Dir. Andrew Panton o Staff Director

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Oresteia: This Restless House Citizens Theatre/EIF/National Theatre of Scotland by Zinnie Harris; Dir. Dominic Hill (2016 & 2017)

Hay Fever Citizens Theatre/Royal Lyceum (2017) by Noel Coward; Dir. Dominic Hill

The Winter’s Tale Royal Lyceum (2017) by William Shakespeare; Dir. Max Webster

Blackbird Citizens Theatre (2016) by David Harrower; Dir. Gareth Nicholls

REFERENCES If you’d like to contact a referee, please give prior notice to Jack. Dominic Hill – Artistic Director, Citizens Theatre [email protected] Dawn Walton – Theatre Director [email protected]

Work In Detail

549: Scots of the Spanish Civil War by Jack Nurse and Robbie Gordon Prestonpans Town Hall (7 – 10) & Citizens Theatre (13 – 17) February 2018 Touring Scotland and to London May/June 2019

COMRADES OF THE INTERNATIONAL BRIGADES. YOU CAN GO PROUDLY. YOU ARE HISTORY. YOU ARE LEGEND.

549: Scots of the Spanish Civil War, a play with songs and storytelling, is a timely insight into one of Scotland’s almost forgotten conflicts.

• REVIEWS o “Black Watch reimagined for a small town function room” ★★★★ The Herald o “There is a special thrill in seeing the play performed, this week, in Prestonpans Town Hall, a building these men would have known well, in front of the kind of local audience, reliving part of their own history, that has been thin on the ground in Scottish theatre since the demise of 7:84 Scotland and Wildcat” ★★★★ The Scotsman o “Beautifully moving tale of friendship, bravery and sacrifice”★★★★ The Skinny o “Brilliantly executed” ★★★★ Reviews Hub • David Bryne, Artistic Director of the New Diorama Theatre, London o “Properly good show - great performances, confident direction and a sold out crowd on a weekday matinee! Surely one of Scotland’s best new companies.”

• PARTICIPATION o Creative learning workshops catered for various age groups (under 12s, 12- 18-year-olds and over 55s) o Post-show talks with historian Daniel Gray, critic Neil Cooper, writers Jack Nurse and Robbie Gordon, cast member Rebekah Lumsden and others o Online interactive map with recorded oral histories of the different communities 549 tours to (2019) o Augmented reality pop-up installation to experience the oral histories of the 549 across the UK, archived online at www.549.scot (2019)

The Mack by Rob Drummond Play, Pie, Pint – Oran Mor 15 – 20 April Traverse Theatre 23 – 27 April

ARE THERE REALLY THINGS MORE PRECIOUS, MORE LONG LASTING THAN LIFE ITSELF?

Ninety years after his own demise, Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s internationally acclaimed masterpiece lies in ruins. For the second time in four years a fire has torn through Glasgow’s most venerable building, tearing just-healed scars wide apart once more. Should we save The Mack or just let it go?

Winner – Best : John Michie – Critics’ Awards for Theatre in Scotland (CATS) ‘19

• REVIEWS o “It’s a cannily-wrought, hauntingly nuanced piece of writing, compellingly delivered by the cast and kept free of faux-dramatics by director Jack Nurse.” ★★★★ The Herald o “A beautifully-paced production by Jack Nurse, with gorgeous, lyrical music and sound by Vanlves” ★★★★ The Scotsman o “Brilliant direction from Jack Nurse” ★★★★ All Guide

Lampedusa by Anders Lustgarten Citizens Theatre 8 – 18 November 2017

WE ALL COME FROM THE SEA AND BACK TO THE SEA WE WILL GO.

Telling the stories behind the headlines about the migrant crisis through two intertwining monologues and live music.

• REVIEWS o "A zeitgeist-capturing evocation of hope" – ★★★★ The Herald o “Impassioned political theatre and a beacon of optimism” – ★★★★ The List o “Jack Nurse’s production delivers an evening worth remembering” – ★★★★ Joyce McMillan, The Scotsman o “Nurse’s well-judged production is enhanced by a soundtrack of increasingly insistent solo guitar” – ★★★★ The Times o ★★★★★ Reviews Hub o ★★★★ Daily Record o ★★★★ The Wee Review

• PARTICIPATION o Post-show talk with director Jack Nuse, Anders Lustgarten (playwright), Pinar Aksu (Activist, Theatre Maker and Community Development Worker) and Teresa Piacentini. (Researcher, Practitioner and Activist who also lectures at Glasgow University) o Celebration afternoon: inspired by Lampedusa, music, dance, poetry and artwork celebrating the rich culture and diversity of Glasgow

The Coolidge Effect by Jack Nurse and Robbie Gordon Various venues since 2016 including Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh; Tron Theatre, Glasgow; New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich; New Diorama, London and HOME, Manchester as well as high schools and youth centres

A HISTORY OF SILENCE NEVER DID US ANY GOOD.

The Coolidge Effect uses a blend of storytelling, poetry and science to examine how pornography affects our mental health, relationships and sexual experiences.

• REVIEWS o "Forceful mix of factual information, fictional storytelling, movement and reflection" - The Scotsman o “Wonder Fools are talented theatre-makers and it’s exciting to see an emerging theatre company making such a varied piece and doing so with a noticeable confidence” – Exeunt Magazine o “Immersive, educational and political […] Wonder Fools have created an impactful and visceral piece of work” – The Fountain o Received a Special Commendation as part of SPRINT Festival, Suitcase Prize, at the New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich in June 2017. • Orla O’Loughlin, former Artistic Director of the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh o “Brilliant to have such a diverse and engaged audience with us all week. Ready to break the silence with Wonder Fools”

• PARTICIPATION o Creative learning workshops with young people in schools and youth groups o In association with the NHS Dumfries and Galloway, The Coolidge Effect toured to schools and youth groups with an accompanying creative learning programme