Nicki lived in St.Ives, Trencrom, Zennor and Falmouth from 1968 to 1974. This followed her gaining an Acting Diploma (Hons) and a brief career in theatre.
In Cornwall, she met and worked with various authors, musicians and visual artists. Her work with Peter Redgrove was ground-breaking at the time. For three years, they devised poetry and word performances, often with local musicians such as Doug Cook (keyboard) and the artist Alan Davie (flute).
Poetry St.Ives was launched and ran to three editions with the support of South-West Arts. Edited by Nicki, it included the work of W.S.Graham, Peter Redgrove, and Malcolm Ritchie.
Developing performance, Nicki founded Tower of Babel and toured the South-West with shows based on the work of eg. William Burroughs. This work was strongly influenced by Jeff Nuttall’s The People Show. A further development was her play Kiss Me Claudia created and performed with Bob Devereux, sound, props and lights by John Clarke. Local performances led to short runs in London at the Arts Lab and The Pit.
FESTIVAL/GATHERING 1970, St.Ives March 19 – 21, 1970
Nicki was appointed Director & South-West Regional Coordinator by the Arts Council’s New Activities Committee.
Each of seven regions in the UK were given funds to present New Activities In their region which were falling outside established definitions and the Committees within the Arts Council to fund them.
The Festival took place over 3 days and nights in venues across the town, including The Guildhall, The Penwith Gallery, Mr.Peggoty’s Disco, a Marquee erected on The Island, various café’s and external locations such as The Sloop Inn Car park, headlands and beaches.
The Festival caused considerable controversy, particularly among the conventional long-term population who had never seen anything like this before. It was covered in the London press, including The Times. The outcome of such innovative presentations across the UK established The New Activities Committee as a permanent part of the Arts Council’s structure. The festival has become a yearly event and survives to this day.
Brochure, programme, press coverage and cuttings are still available.