The Corona Diaries: Nicola Hughes

These recent times have been some of the hardest challenges we've faced and as a community, it hit us pretty hard. However during these difficult times, here at Pocket Size Theatre, we wanted to spread a little positivity and share some peoples experiences because we are all in this together. Each day we'll be speaking to our friends in the industry to share their experiences with you all so take a read and see how people are getting through these hard times.

Let's stick together, share the love and get through this as a community!

*Some information mentioned in this article may be out of date due to the progress of the current situation. Please keep that in mind when reading* 

Nicola Hughes was most recently seen in Fairview at the Young Vic. Her other credits include Yellowman, Zarita in Simply Heaven (Young Vic); A Christmas Carol (The Old Vic); Allelujah! (The Bridge Theatre); Dotty in Caroline, Or Change (Chichester Festival Theatre); Bess in Porgy & Bess (Savoy Theatre, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre); The El. Train (Hoxton Hall); Shug Avery in The Color Purple (Menier Chocolate Factory); Yum Yum in The Hot Mikado (Watermill Theatre); Ain't Misbehaving (Derby Playhouse); Blues in the Night (Birmingham Rep); Fosse (Prince of Wales); Velma Kelly in Chicago (Adelphi Theatre); Lola in Damn Yankees (Adelphi Theatre); The Acid Queen in Tommy (Shaftsbury Theatre) and Margie in Crazy for You (Prince Edward Theatre). 

On Monday 16th March 2020, The Society of London Theatre announced the closure of all Theatres in London. This followed suit with regional venues. Where were you when you found out and what was your initial reaction? 

I think I was home with my kids. I was gutted for our industry, first out, last helped.

Can you tell us anything productive you’ve been doing? 

I’d love to be doing yoga, learning a new language or reading plays right now but, I literally have been taking care of my 3 young boys. I’ve become a home-school teacher overnight. Overseeing up to 6 zoom lessons a day, plus trying to do the usual housekeeping jobs I normally do. To be honest I have not had a minute to myself so envy anyone who’s been able to discover new things during lockdown. I have however loved catching the online zoom reunion show performances. It has warmed my heart.

Regent's Park Open Air Theatre presents Gershwins’ PORGY AND BESS

Rehearsals have now started, for  the Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess which will run at Regents Park Open Air Theatre from 17 July to 23 August with Opening Night for press on 28 July. Celebrated as a landmark piece of American theatre with iconic songs including‘Summertime’, ‘I Got Plenty of Nothing’, ‘I Loves You Porgy’ and ‘It Ain’t Necessarily So’, Porgy and Bess will be directed by Regents Park Open Air Theatre’s Artistic Director Timothy Sheader, with a book adapted by Suzan-Lori Parks and a musical score adapted byDiedre L. Murray.

Drawing on talent from both sides of the Atlantic, Rufus Bonds Jr plays Porgy and Nicola Hughes plays Bess, with Phillip Boykin as Crown, Cedric Neal as Sportin’ Life and Olivier Award-winning Sharon D Clarke as Mariah.

The full cast of Porgy and Bess also includes David Albury, Angela Caesar, Jade Ewen, Alex Giannini, Owain Gwynn, Tyrone Huntley, George Ikediashi, Claudia Kariuki, Arthur Kyeyune, Oliver Lidert, Leon Lopez, Jay Marsh, Tania Mathurin, Ellen O’Grady, Golda Rosheuvel, Yemie Sonuga and Marvin Springer.

Lead cast announced for Regents Park PORGY AND BESS and HOBSON'S CHOICE

Nicola Hughes 

Today, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre has confirmed lead casting for Hobson’s Choice and the Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess. Mark Benton will play Henry Hobson in Hobson’s Choice, with Jodie McNee as his daughter Maggie. Rufus Bonds Jr and Nicola Hughes play the title roles in Porgy and Bess with Phillip Boykin re-creating his Tony Award nominated performance as Crown, and Sharon D Clarke as Mariah.

Mark Benton is best known for his television roles in Early Doors, Northern Lights and Waterloo Road. His stage credits include Richard III (Royal Shakespeare Company), The Front Page (Donmar Warehouse), A Day in the Death of Joe Egg (Nottingham Playhouse) and the 2013 UK tour of Hairspray. In September 2013 Mark was a popular contestant on BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing.

Jodie McNee has previously appeared in King Lear (Shakespeare’s Globe), Twelfth Night (Liverpool Everyman), The Empty Quarter (Hampstead Theatre) and A Life of Galileo, Written on the Heart and Measure for Measure (Royal Shakespeare Company).

Hobson’s Choice will run from 12 June to 12 July and will be directed by Nadia Fall whose credits include The Doctor’s Dilemma and Home (National Theatre) and Disgraced (Bush Theatre). The set and costumes will be designed by Ben Stones whose credits include Creditors (Donmar Warehouse), The Kitchen Sink (Bush Theatre), and Doctor Faustus (Royal Exchange) for which he won the MEN Best Design Award 2011.

Rufus Bonds Jr is an American actor who has appeared in The Color Purple (US National Tour), Disney’s The Lion King (US National Tour) and the original Broadway production of Parade for which he was nominated for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical.

Nicola Hughes revisits the role of Bess following her Olivier Award nominated performance in Trevor Nunn’s 2006 production at the Savoy Theatre. Her stage credits also include The Color Purple (Menier Chocolate Factory), Fosse (Prince of Wales Theatre / Olivier Award nomination), and Velma Kelly inChicago (Adelphi Theatre).

Porgy and Bess will also star Phillip Boykin who will reprise the role of Crown, for which he received Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations for the 2012 Broadway production (Tony Award, Best Revival of a Musical). Double-Laurence Olivier Award nominee Sharon D Clarke, whose credits include We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre), Ghost (Piccadilly Theatre) and The Amen Corner (National Theatre), will play the role of Mariah.

Rufus Bonds Jr and Phillip Boykin are appearing with the permission of UK Equity, incorporating the Variety Artistes’ Federation, pursuant to an exchange program between American Equity and UK Equity.

Celebrated as a landmark piece of American theatre, the Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess will run from 17 July to 23 August, directed by Timothy Sheader, with a book adapted by Suzan-Lori Parks and a musical score adapted by Diedre L. Murray. The set and costume will be designed by Katrina Lindsaywhose credits include Table and London Road (both National Theatre), Cabaret (West End and UK Tour), and Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Broadway) for which she won the 2008 Tony, Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk Award for Best Costume Design. Choreography will be by Liam Steel whose credits include the musical staging and choreography for the film of Les Misérables and at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, co-directed and choreographed Into the Woods which was remounted at the Delacorte Theatre in New York’s Central Park in 2012.

Further casting for the season will be announced shortly.