Nikolai is Artistic Director at Curve, Leicester, one of the UK’s leading regional theatres, described as ‘world class’ The Daily Telegraph and ‘a venue with a truly impressive musical pedigree’ The Times.
Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, Nikolai grew up in North Yorkshire and trained at Drama Centre London and at the Crucible, Sheffield.
He has created work for many of the UK’s major producing theatres, touring houses and international venues. Nikolai has been director on attachment at the Sheffield Crucible, the Royal Court Theatre and National Theatre Studio and served as an Associate Director at Leeds Playhouse. In 2024, Nikolai was awarded an Honorary Doctor of the Arts by Leicester’s De Montfort University for his contribution to theatre in Leicester.
Recently at Curve, Nikolai directed the world premiere of Rob Madge & Pippa Clearey’s BANK OF DAVE – THE MUSICAL and brand new productions of Harvey Fierstein and Cyndi Lauper’s KINKY BOOTS (London Coliseum, UK and Europe tours), Laurence O’Keefe, Nell Benjamin and Heather Hach’s LEGALLY BLONDE (and UK tour), THE SOUND OF MUSIC, Lerner & Loewe’s MY FAIR LADY, A CHORUS LINE (also at Sadler’s Wells, on tour in Japan and UK tour), Andrew Lloyd Webber & Tim Rice’s EVITA and THE WIZARD OF OZ (also at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, London Palladium and UK tour), the first new UK production of Lee Hall & Elton John’s BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL (winner Best Musical Production UK Theatre Awards and Best Regional Production WhatsOnStage Awards), described as a ‘masterpiece’ by The Times, and Jim Jacobs & Warren Casey’s GREASE at London’s Dominion Theatre and extensive UK tours. During lockdown, Nikolai directed Curve’s first digital streamed production, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Don Black and Christopher Hampton’s SUNSET BOULEVARD, hailed as a ‘game-changer’ by The Telegraph. Nikolai has also directed a major revival of Bernstein, Sondheim and Laurents’ WEST SIDE STORY, Hanif Kureishi’s MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE (nominated for Best Regional Production at the WhatsOnStage Awards 2020), AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN – THE MUSICAL (and UK tours), Irving Berlin’s WHITE CHRISTMAS (also at the Dominion and on tour), the world-premiere of Dougal Irvine’s adaptation of Riaz Khan’s MEMOIRS OF AN ASIAN FOOTBALL CASUAL (winner Best Stage Production Asian Media Awards), SUNSET BOULEVARD (UK tour and winner Best Regional Production WhatsOnStage Awards), Joe Orton’s WHAT THE BUTLER SAW (with Theatre Royal Bath), Oscar Wilde’s THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST (with Birmingham Rep), the Broadway musical SPRING AWAKENING (with NYMT), LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL (Opera Garnier, Monaco and Daegu Opera Festival, South Korea – Winner Best Musical – Daegu International Musical Festival Awards), Truman Capote’s BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S (and Haymarket Theatre, London and UK tour), Roald Dahl’s THE WITCHES (with Rose Theatre Kingston, Lyric Theatre, Hong Kong, Leeds Playhouse and UK tour), Tennessee Williams’ A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, Shakespeare’s RICHARD III, Timberlake Wertenbaker’s OUR COUNTRY’S GOOD and a performance to celebrate the reveal of the tomb of King Richard III at Leicester Cathedral.
As Associate Director at Leeds Playhouse, he directed Orwell’s ANIMAL FARM, a new Sherlock Holmes story (THE BEST KEPT SECRET by Mark Catley), Dickens’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL (adapted by Bryony Lavery and Jason Carr), Louise Page’s SALONIKA and Amanda Whittington’s BOLLYWOOD JANE. At the Crucible Sheffield, Nikolai made his directorial debut with A CHORUS LINE (2003), later followed by productions of Sondheim’s ASSASSINS and Shaffer’s AMADEUS.
Nikolai has also directed acclaimed productions of Coward’s HAY FEVER (Chichester Festival Theatre), ANNIE (Piccadilly Theatre, London, Toronto, South Africa and extensive UK tours), Jonathan Harvey’s BEAUTIFUL THING (Arts Theatre, London), Shelagh Stephenson’s THE MEMORY OF WATER (Stephen Joseph Scarborough), Leoncavallo’s PAGLIACCI (English Touring Opera and Pegasus Opera), A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE and Sondheim’s MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG (Theatr Clwyd), THE JUNGLE BOOK (Glasgow Citz), Barry Hine’s KES and Ayckbourn’s SEASONS GREETINGS (Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse), David Essex’s ALL THE FUN OF THE FAIR (UK tour), Coward’s final play A SONG AT TWILIGHT, Shakespeare’s A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, Steinbeck’s OF MICE AND MEN and Brecht’s THE GOOD PERSON OF SICHUAN (all Mercury Theatre, Colchester), THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK (UK tour), Shakespeare’s AS YOU LIKE IT (Chester Storyhouse), THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK (York Theatre Royal), MACBETH (Singapore Repertory Theatre), Dahl’s JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH (UK tour), Ayckbourn’s ABSENT FRIENDS and Terry Johnson’s DEAD FUNNY (Oldham Coliseum), Tanika Gupta’s adaptation of Dickens’ GREAT EXPECTATIONS (Palace Theatre Watford and ETT) and Boucicault’s LONDON ASSURANCE and CALAMITY JANE at the Watermill (2010 and UK tour 2025).
Nikolai is a Director of Curve Productions Ltd, the producing arm for Made at Curve Productions.
