Nica Burns

Nica Burns
Name	Nica Burns
Birth date	1954
Birth place	London, England
Occupation	Theatre producer, theatre owner
Alma mater	Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford
Spouse	Mark Rubinstein

Nica Burns is a British theatre producer and entrepreneur known for co-owning multiple West End venues and producing commercial theatre and comedy. She is co-founder of Nimax Theatres, a company that operates prominent London playhouses, and has produced a diverse range of plays, musicals and comedy seasons. Burns's work intersects with major figures and institutions in British theatre, international touring productions and West End commercial management.

Early life and education

Born in London in 1954, Burns grew up amid the cultural landscape of Greater London and attended Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford where she read French and Spanish. Her university years overlapped with contemporaries at University of Oxford who later engaged with institutions like the Royal Court Theatre and National Theatre. After Oxford she trained in theatre production and management, associating with practitioners from venues such as the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Old Vic.

Career

Burns began her career producing fringe and regional work before moving into commercial producing in the West End and touring circuits. She co-founded production companies and collaborated with producers linked to the Royal Court Theatre, Donmar Warehouse, Barbican Centre, and independent producers who had credits at the Gielgud Theatre and Vaudeville Theatre. In partnership with Derek Squires and later with Nica Burns's business associates, she helped establish a portfolio of theatres by acquiring freeholds and leases from entities including Nederlander Organization-linked interests and private investors. As co-founder of Nimax Theatres, she oversaw operations that connected with programming from companies such as Duchess Theatre-based producers, touring agents, and international licensors tied to the Sondheim and Lerner and Loewe catalogues. Her producing credits span collaborations with directors and creatives who have worked at the National Theatre, Royal Court Theatre, Young Vic, and Sheffield Theatres.

Notable productions and theatres

Burns's notable productions have played at venues across the West End and on international tours, engaging with plays and musicals that featured actors from the National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, Globe Theatre ensembles, and television performers from BBC series. The theatres she co-owns through Nimax include the Duchess Theatre, Gielgud Theatre, Lyric Theatre, Criterion Theatre, Vaudeville Theatre, Phoenix Theatre, Duke of York's Theatre, and Sondheim Theatre (formerly the Queen's Theatre). Productions and seasons at these venues have included transfers of work from the Donmar Warehouse, revivals associated with the West End stage, long-running shows transferred from regional houses such as Birmingham Hippodrome and Manchester Opera House, and comedy residencies featuring performers linked to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Royal Court Theatre playwrights, and commercial stand-up circuits.

Honours and awards

Burns's contributions to theatre have been recognised by industry bodies including the Society of London Theatre, the Laurence Olivier Awards, and professional networks that include the Stage and the British Theatre Guide. She has been cited in lists compiled by cultural institutions such as the Evening Standard and recognized by trade associations and charity trustees for services to the performing arts. Her venues and productions have received nominations and wins at the Laurence Olivier Awards, and commercial success has been noted by commentators from the Financial Times, The Guardian, and The Telegraph.

Personal life

Burns is married to actor and creative producer Mark Rubinstein. She lives in London and maintains links with alumni networks at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford and industry bodies including the Society of London Theatre and producer associations. Her social and professional circles include producers, directors and performers who have worked at the National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, Donmar Warehouse, and Royal Court Theatre.

Philanthropy and public roles

Burns has served on boards and advisory panels for arts charities and trusts that support theatres, playwright development and training schemes linked to institutions such as the National Theatre, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, and Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She has been involved with philanthropic initiatives that fund touring theatre to regional venues including Bristol Old Vic and Theatre Royal, Bath, and has participated in campaigns championing the performing arts during policy debates involving cultural funding bodies and civic stakeholders.

Category:British theatre producers Category:People educated at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford