Lounica Maureen Patricia "Nica" Burns OBE (born August 1954) is a London theatre producer and co-owner with her business partner Max Weitzenhoffer of the Nimax Theatres group, comprising six West End theatres: the Palace, Lyric, Apollo, Garrick, Vaudeville and Duchess.[1]
Nica Burns | |
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Born | Lounica Maureen Patricia Burns August 1954 (age 69) |
Nationality | British |
Education | Haberdashers' Aske's School for Girls |
Alma mater | University College London |
Occupation(s) | London theatre producer and owner |
Known for | Nimax Theatres |
Spouse | Marc Hutchinson |
Nica Burns was born in August 1954,[2] and grew up in Ealing, London.[3] She was educated at Haberdashers' Aske's School for Girls, when it was located in Acton. In 1973, she went to University College London to read for a law degree.[4]
Following an early career in acting, Burns moved to directing and producing, co-writing and performing in H. E. Bates's Dulcima at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.[4][5] She has been director and producer of the Edinburgh Comedy Awards (formerly Perrier Awards) from 1984 to the present day.[5]
She was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2013 New Year Honours for services to theatre.[6] At the 2013 Private Business Awards, Burns was awarded Private Businesswoman of the Year.[7]
The Apollo was the centre of a news story on 19 December 2013, when portions of the ceiling collapsed, landing on the audience.[8]
Burns is married to Australian-born finance lawyer Marc Hutchinson, a partner at Slaughter and May,[9] and chairman of the Heath and Hampstead Society since 2014.[10] They met when they were both law students at University College London.[10]