Barbara Nice

A prolific performer on the UK comedy circuit, Janice Connolly is best known for her work as the character Barbara Nice as whom she appears nationally in comedy clubs, festivals and in her own productions including Hiya and Higher (national tour) and Mrs Nice (Birmingham and Edinburgh Fringe 2012).

Performing in a new act event in Manchester, she was discovered by Peter Kay, who rang after the show to ask if she’d play Holy Mary in Phoenix Nights. She accepted and appeared in both series of the show and reprised the role for Max & Paddy’s Road to Nowhere.

Other acting roles for television include the recurring guest role of Sheila Wheeler in Coronation Street, Carol Sykes in Dead Man Weds and guest roles in Doctors and In With the Flynns.

Stage work includes the role of Helen in A Taste of Honey at The New Vic in 2009 and Bridgette in Cathy Crabb’s Beautiful House at Manchester’s Library Theatre in 2010. She was a performer in the immersive production, Office Party, at Pleasance Theatre in 2012 and has appeared in panto at The Lowry, Bristol Hippodrome, Manchester Opera House and Regent Theatre, Stoke.

She is the founder and Artistic Director of Midlands based theatre company Women and Theatre which has established a national reputation over 28 years of producing well researched contemporary theatre which is accessible and aims to deepen understanding and facilitate change.

Barbara Nice is the resident Compere at The Laughing Sole Birmingham – a comedy club with a cleaner ethos run bu Helen Tomblin .