Introducing the ROSS Staff

Nicola Martinus-Smith - Director/Choreographer

Nicola trained in Musical Theatre at CPA Studios. While in her graduating year she was awarded the Stephen Mear performance Award and was also a finalist in the Stephen Sondheim Student Peformer of the Year competition, where she performed at the Garrick Theatre in the West End.

Since then, Nicola has performed in shows across the UK and abroad and has also worked as Assistant Choreographer at Mountview. Most recently she has directed and choreographed a variety of shows across Hertfordshire, including High School Musical and Beauty and the Beast.

Eric Wilson - Musical Director

Eric studied music at the University of Liverpool, graduating with honours, and later at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. A regular performer on both percussion and trumpet, Eric also works as a professional arranger and orchestrator with many published works to his credit (several of which appear on exam syllabuses). His work varies from music preparation and printing to creating piano reductions for the Royal Ballet, arranging music for orchestra and concert band or orchestrating musical theatre works. Eric is a Professor at the Royal College of Music where he has taught part of the BMus degree course since 1998. Conducting credits include Guys and Dolls, Broadway Pirates, West Side Story, Barnum, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Yeomen of the Guard, South Pacific, She Loves Me, Sweeney Todd, Brassed Off, HMS Pinafore, The Gondoliers, and Ruddigore.

Nikki Scott - Director

Nikki developed her directing skills when at University where she took shows to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. She has directed a diverse range of musicals including Our House, The Hired Man, Oklahoma!, Sweet Charity, My Fair Lady, Follies, Annie, Little Shop of Horrors, The King & I and The Wedding Singer. Other directing credits include Relatively Speaking, The Ghost Train and Calendar Girls. Nikki also spent many years as Managing Director of TAIT Stage Technologies who provide engineering solutions to worldwide entertainment venues including the West End, Broadway and Las Vegas.

Mike Payne - Musical Director

Mike is a professional musician and MD based in Hertfordshire.

Martin Smith - Musical Director

Martin has been a professional musician since 1982, playing with bands and orchestras in the UK. He has conducted and arranged for bands and groups and has more than 30 years experience as a musical director. His show credits include Pippin, Bugsy Malone, Fiddler on the Roof, Half A Sixpence, Can Can, Cabaret, Kiss Me Kate, Barnum, Crazy For You, King and I, The Hired Man, I Love You Because, A Chorus Line and Singin' In The Rain. Martin was the resident Musical Director of Lemon Tuesday, an all female vocal group based in Hertfordshire for 11 years and also currently is the Trombonist and Bass player with the 'Jazz Goats' who perform at events and functions including the prestigious Olivier Awards. He has a passion for design and photography and has worked as a production designer for shows at the Watford Palace Theatre since 1991 and regularly photographs both professional and amateur theatre.

Robert Wicks - Musical Director

Robert was born in Northamptonshire and has worked in many areas of the country with a wide range of performers, from professional companies to award winning amateur societies. He has worked as a Conductor, Singing Coach, Musical Director and player including several Regional Premieres. As a musician, Robert played with many of the local concert bands and orchestras in Northamptonshire before being relocated in 2004 and joining Aylesbury Concert Band which he later conducted full time.

Robert has toured with Talkwood Productions working as Musical Director for a production of A Christmas Carol, The Musical which finished with a 3 week run at The Charing Cross Theatre in London.

Emma Fraser - Musical Director

Emma is a London-based actor, singer and musician whose musical theatre credits include Rags (Manchester Playhouse) UK Tour of Once, Return to the Forbidden Planet (Upstairs at the Gatehouse), Footloose (UK and International tour), Beauty and the Beast, The Vaudevillians, and Brass.

Emma comes from a theatrical family and has been involved in amateur theatre as a performer, accompanist and MD for many years. 

Jo Hand - Director/Choreographer

Joanne's involvement with dance started from a very young age following in a long line of family tradition. Growing up in Mexico and then the United States she was accepted into a performance company at the age of 15 giving her the opportunity to work with many renowned performers and choreographers from an early age including Jacques D'Ambois. On returning to England Joanne trained professionally at Bush Davies and the Northern Ballet School completing a three year professional dance / teachers course covering all disciplines of dance and performance. Since graduating Joanne has taught and choreographed extensively including becoming 'resident' director/choreographer for Darlington OS.