Janice Connolly awarded British Empire Medal for services to Community Arts

Credit: Women and Theatre

Women and Theatre’s Artistic Director Janice Connolly has been named in the New Year’s Honour’s List.

Birmingham-based Connolly has been awarded a British Empire Medal for services to Community Arts in the West Midlands.

Janice, who is also known as her stand-up comedy character Mrs Barbara Nice, originally trained as a teacher before working for Barnardos for several years as a youth worker.

In 1983 she co-founded Women and Theatre, since then Janice has produced over 50 plays, which have shone a light on pressing social issues, tackling taboo subjects such as domestic violence and mental health.

Responding to the news Janice said:

Credit: Women and Theatre

Women and Theatre now employs over 300 artists and arts workers, delivers over 5000 performances and workshops and has built an audience of over 150,000.