ABOUT ME
I trained as a musical theatre performer at London Studio Centre, graduating in 2000 with a BA (Hons) degree in Theatre Dance. After around a decade as a performer in musical theatre, dance and straight acting, I moved into vocational performing arts training, teaching Singing at many top London conservatoires including Arts Ed London, Mountview, Urdang Academy, LAMDA, Italia Conti and London Studio Centre. From there I became Head of Musical Theatre at BodyWork Company Dance Studios in Cambridge, Head of Musical Theatre at the Institute of the Arts Barcelona, and Course Leader at Italia Conti in London, before returning to London Studio Centre as Head of Musical Theatre.
Alongside this, I have worked for 18 years as a Musical Director, trained on the postgraduate programme at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. As such, I am an expert in managing auditions, and the many and varied performance situations that occur during a theatre training and onwards into the profession.In 2020 I graduated with Distinction from the MSc in Creative Arts and Mental Health at Queen Mary University of London, having chosen this course due to a passion for helping performers overcome the mental health issues that stand between them and achieving their full potential. My chosen area of research focus was performance anxiety, and I am now in the privileged position of being able to combine my extensive vocational experience with my research into performance anxiety to offer a unique perspective into understanding the specific issues faced by theatre professionals and students. Additionally, I completed a research thesis on understanding and providing for the particular mental health needs of vocational performing arts students, during training and onwards into the profession. I am honoured that this thesis was selected for publication by the university. I am currently studying for my Professional Doctorate in Elite Performance at the University of Lancashire, continuing my research in performance anxiety in theatre professionals and other elite performance domains such as sport and business.
I am currently completing my Professional Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, am working towards accreditation with the ICF (International Coaching Federation) as a qualified transformational life coach, and I am a qualified Mental Health First Aider.
Please note: Coaching is not counselling or therapy and I am not qualified to give clinical advice.
"The way Nikki explained things in such a scientific way really helped as it made me feel normal! I liked that she was really positive and I felt really lifted afterwards. I just think she’s amazing!"
Musical Theatre student, UK