Nick Thomas (theatre producer)

Nick Thomas
Born (1959-12-16) 16 December 1959
Blandford Forum, Dorset, England
Occupation Theatre producer

Nick Thomas (born 16 December 1959) is a British entertainment entrepreneur. He is founder, Chairman and joint-owner with his wife Sandra, of Qdos Entertainment Ltd (Qdos), whose subsidiaries include HQ Theatres & Hospitality Ltd, Qdos Entertainment (Pantomimes) Ltd, Qdos Entertainment (Productions) Ltd, Q Talent Ltd and Q Voice Ltd.[1]

Since its inception, The Stage newspaper annual ‘Stage 100’ has accredited Thomas as one of the top 100 most influential people in British Theatre. In 2015, he was ranked 15th,[2] and his highest position was 5th in 2008.[3] Thomas was first listed in Who’s Who in 2013. He is a Vice President of The Royal Variety Charity[4] which organises The Royal Variety Performance. He is a fundraiser for Great Ormond Street Hospital and through his theatre collections; he has raised in excess of £700,000 since December 2010.[5] Thomas is a member of The Ivy Club, the Groucho Club and Home House.

Performing Career 1970s – 1980s

Thomas created the puppet act ‘Tommer Puppets’ in 1973.[6] In 1975, aged 15, his act won Episode 22, Series 3 of the ATV Network series New Faces. The show was broadcast on 15 February 1975, and the Winners Show on 8 March, which was won by the late Al Dean, a Liverpool comedian. The Chuckle Brothers (working then as Paul & Barry Harman), and Lenny Henry were also on the Winner’s Show. This marked the start of Thomas’ professional career; he left school in 1975 and subsequently appeared in shows with Dick Emery, Mike & Bernie Winters, Ronnie Dukes & Ricky Lee, The Nolans, Cilla Black, Lena Zavaroni and Larry Grayson. His act also appeared on many cruise liners in Rey Grey Revues, including Lauro Lines ‘Angelina Lauro’ Chandris Lines ‘Amerikanis’,’ Britannis’, and Costa Lines ‘Eugenio C’.[7]

Producing career

Summer Shows

Thomas began producing summer season shows in 1982. Between 1982 and 2005, he produced summer season revues and concerts at the following theatres:

Grand Theatre Blackpool, South Pier Theatre Blackpool, North Pier Theatre Blackpool, Opera House Blackpool, Royal Opera House Scarborough, Floral Hall Scarborough, Futurist Theatre Scarborough, Spa Theatre Scarborough, Pavilion Theatre Sandown Isle of Wight, Princess Theatre Torquay, English Riviera Centre Torquay, Pavilion Theatre Weymouth, Embassy Centre Skegness, Pavilion Theatre Bournemouth, Royalty Theatre Great Yarmouth, Britannia Pier Great Yarmouth Butlins Holiday Worlds & Haven Holidays Parks.

Pantomimes

Thomas began producing pantomimes at The Charter Theatre Preston in 1982.[6] He has since produced over 600 pantomimes. In 1999 he bought E&B Productions (Theatre) Ltd,[7] a rival pantomimes producer. In 2003 he bought Midas Productions Ltd a second rival producer.[8] Qdos Entertainment (Pantomimes) Ltd. will stage 24 pantomimes for the 2015/16 Season:[9]

His Majesty’s Theatre Aberdeen, Grand Opera House Belfast, The Hippodrome Birmingham, The Alhambra Bradford, New Theatre Cardiff, Lyceum Theatre Crewe, Civic Theatre Darlington, Orchard Theatre Dartford, King's Theatre Edinburgh, Scottish Exhibition & Conference Centre Glasgow, White Rock Theatre Hastings, Beck Theatre Hayes, Swan Theatre High Wycombe, New Theatre Hull, Venue Cymru Llandudno, Theatre Royal Newcastle, Royal&Derngate Northampton, Theatre Royal Nottingham, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Mayflower Theatre Southampton, Cliffs Pavilion Southend, Grand Theatre Swansea, Wyvern Theatre Swindon & Grand Theatre Wolverhampton.

Cruise Line Productions

2008 – 2014; Celebrity Cruises; ‘Millennium’, ‘Constellation’, ‘Infinity’, ‘Summit’[10]
2013 – Present; Cunard Lines; ‘Queen Victoria’, ‘Queen Mary 2’, Queen Elizabeth.[11] 2015–Present; P&O Cruises: Britannia

Talent Agency Career

1991: Creates the talent agency Artist Management Group Ltd.[12]
2002: Creates Qvoice Ltd voice-over agency.
2003: Buys International Artistes Ltd with Artist Management Group.
2006: Buys JLM Artists Ltd.[13]
2007: Buys holiday park agency The Entertainment Department (UK) Ltd, renames it TED Group.[13]

2011: Merges International Artistes and JLM to create QTalent Ltd.[14] 2014: JLM separates from QTalent to become Sharon Henry Management. QTalent continues to operate.

Regional Theatre Operations Career[15]

2005: Formed HQ Theatres Ltd (HQT), a joint venture between Qdos and Hetherington Seelig Theatres Ltd which operated Wyvern Theatre Swindon and the Wycombe Swan Theatre High Wycombe.
2006: HQT wins operating contract for the Cliffs Pavilion Southend and Palace Theatre Westcliff.
2007: HQT forms HQ Hospitality Ltd to provide bars & catering services at all its theatres.
2007: Qdos buys out Hetherington Seelig Theatres’ shareholding in HQT.[13]
2008: HQT wins operating contract for Orchard Theatre Dartford.
2009: HQT wins operating contracts for Beck Theatre Hayes and White Rock Theatre Hastings.
2010: HQT wins operating contract for The Watford Colosseum.
2011: HQT wins operating contract for G Live Guildford.
2012: HQT wins operating contract for The Lyceum Theatre Crewe.
2013: HQ Theatres is re named as HQ Theatres & Hospitality Ltd.
2015: HQT wins operating contract for Churchill Theatre in Bromley starting in April 2016.

HQ Theatres & Hospitality Ltd is the second largest regional theatre operator in the UK.[16]

Restaurants & Hotel Career

1999 – 2008: Tricolos Scarborough.[17]
2005 – Present: The Copper Horse, Seamer, Scarborough.[18]
2010 – 2014: The Tanglewood, York.[19]
2010 – 2013: The Restaurant @SJT Theatre, Scarborough.[6]
2011 – Present: The Copper Horse Cottages & Rooms, Seamer, Scarborough
2013 – Present: The Mayfield Carvery/Restaurant/Rooms, Seamer, Scarborough[20]
2013 – Present: The Plough Pub/Restaurant/Rooms, Scalby, Scarborough[21]

Personal life

Thomas was born in Blandford Forum Dorset, the son of a garage proprietor Douglas William Thomas, and he is the youngest of five children. His first visit to a theatre was in 1967 to see ‘The Bachelors Show’ at The Futurist Theatre Scarborough,[6] after his family moved to the town. In 1970 he met Ken Dodd at The Futurist Theatre (in which his wife to be was a Diddyman) and began a lifelong friendship with the entertainer. Dodd's early influence is credited by Thomas as his inspiration to start a career in show-business as a puppeteer. Dodd now appears regularly at Thomas' HQ Theatres.

Born Blandford Forum Dorset. Moved with family to Formby Merseyside in 1966. Moved to Scarborough, North Yorkshire in 1967. Attended Gladstone Road Junior School 1967-1971. Attended Scarborough Boys’ High School (renamed Graham School) 1971-1975.[6]

Thomas was married to Sandra Jane Thomas in 1985. They had their first child Verity in 1987 and their second child Christie in 1991. First Grandson, Rupert Nicholas Thomas born to Christie, 24 February 2014. The family have homes in Scarborough, London and Estepona Spain.

References

  1. ↑ "About Qdos Entertainment". Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  2. ↑ "The Stage 100: 11-20". The Stage.
  3. ↑ "Stage 100: Who'll be number one?". The Stage. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  4. ↑ "EABF Management". Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  5. ↑ "Qdos Entertainment Raises over £700,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital". Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "Futurist Questions to Nick Thomas". Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  7. 1 2 "LinkedIn". Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  8. ↑ "Nick Thomas and the Cooper Horse". Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  9. ↑ "Qdos Pantomimes". Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  10. ↑ "Celebrity Cruises' Shows Step it up a Notch". Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  11. ↑ "Dancers set for cruise liner performances". The Scarborough News. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  12. ↑ "We still like to be beside the seaside". The Independent. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  13. 1 2 3 "Purchases put Qdos third in UK regions". The Stage. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  14. ↑ "About Qtalent". Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  15. ↑ "About HQ Theatres & Hospitality". Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  16. ↑ "HQ Theatres to run £26m Guildford venue". The Stage. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  17. ↑ "Under new management". Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  18. ↑ "North Yorkshire restaurant guide - The Copper Horse, Seamer". Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  19. ↑ "The Tanglewood, York". Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  20. ↑ Stirk, Annie (10 April 2014). "Yorkshire Life Luncheon - The Copper Horse, Seamer, Scarborough".
  21. ↑ Jeffels, David (29 November 2013). "£1 million makeover for Crown & Cushion in Welburn". Retrieved 24 October 2014.
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