writer and performer
About
Krystina Nellis is a BAFTA Rocliffe-shortlisted writer/performer. She makes heartfelt, character-driven narrative comedy-drama about people who feel like outsiders.Krystina performed her solo show Glitch at VAULT Festival. Her writing has been staged at Arcola Theatre and The Space, and online with Burn Bright. She's performed on stages around the world, including in London, Cambridge, Vancouver and LA.She's placed highly in calls including the BAFTA Rocliffe shortlist, Female Pilot Club semi-finals, Channel 4's 4Stories finals, Finish Line Script Competition and BBC Writers' Access Group.Krystina is a current BAFTA Connect member. She's previously been part of the BBC Writers' Digital Programme, Soho Theatre Writers Lab and Soho's invitational Alumni Writers Group. As an improviser and sketch comedian, she's trained with Hoopla and Upright Citizens Brigade.As a freelance copywriter for Studio Canal, Krystina wrote a comedy PSA performed by Liam Neeson about manspreading on the Tube. She laments that apparently even the threat of being taken didn't stop anyone.Alongside her creative work, Krystina has worked in the music, live events and marketing industries for several years. She has also contributed to BBC News Online, The Guardian and Drowned in Sound, including reviewing Lana Del Rey as a sozzled film noir detective.Krystina is British/Irish (yes, you can be both), grew up in Suffolk and went to a state school, before graduating from Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. When she's not making things she's usually either working out how to travel somewhere, working out in general, or nerding out.
Creative CV
productions
full-length stage plays
Glitch (dir. Callie Nestleroth) - VAULT Festival, March 2020short stage plays
The Formula (dir. Cassie Symes) - Arcola, May 2018
Big Deal (dir. Olivia Ouwehand) - The Space, April 2018
Everybody Does It (dir. Joe James) - RCSSD
Catholicon (dir. Guy Rayner-Rudland) - RCSSDdigital plays
Recipes (dir. Abigail Sewell) - Burn Bright 'Better In Person', May 2020
Performing
Glitch (Kelly) - VAULT Festival
Everybody Does It (Sophie) - RCSSD
UCB Improv - UCBLA Theatre, Los Angeles
Untitled 4451 (Lucy) - RCSSD
Hoopla Comedy (various) - The Miller
Twelfth Night (Malvolio) - Vancouver/Cambridge
Phedre (Ismene) - ADC, Cambridge
Emma (Mrs. Elton) - Cambridge
Celebration (Waiter) - Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge
Directing
Lifted (short play) - RCSSD
Twelfth Night - Peterhouse College, Cambridge
Awards and Recognition
all3Media New Writers Collective - top 20%
(The Plastics)
Female Pilot Club 2025 - semi-finalist (The Plastics)
BAFTA Rocliffe TV SitCom Prize 2022 - shortlist (Neighbourhood Watch)
BBC Writers Access Group call 2023 - top 4%
Finish Line Script Competition 2023 - quarter-finalist (Neighbourhood Watch)
4Stories 2022 - shortlist (Everybody Does It)
4Stories 2020 - finalist (Glitch)
BBC Writersroom 2020 - top 14%
BBC Writersroom 2019 - top 15%
RCSSD Start-Up Award 2017
Schemes and Training
BBC Writers Digital Programme - 2024
DANC/ScreenSkills Mentoring - 2021-2
Soho Writers' Alumni Group - 2019-2021
Soho Theatre Writers' Lab - 2018-9RCSSD - MA Writing for Stage and Broadcast Media
Anglia Ruskin University - BA Drama with Film Studies
UCB LA - Improv
Hoopla - Improv and sketch comedy
Say Hey
Want to ask about my work or just say hello? Get in touch using the form below. Especially if you want to pay me to do writing or acting or directing, or help me get paid to do writing or acting or directing. Then you should definitely drop me a line.(Please note that I can't enter into any correspondence about DDN issues outside of established agreements. In keeping with GDPR any such emails will be deleted unread.)
Glitch
Neurodivergence, grief, small towns and video games. Kelly's got 'em all.Sutward's 'diagnosed weirdo', Kelly, loves video games and doesn't love Sutward, or change. When a gaming contest comes to town, Kelly senses an opportunity to save her sick Dad... and maybe herself.Written and performed by Krystina Nellis
Directed by Callie Nestleroth
Designed by Tim KellyProduced by Studio Odder in collaboration with Chronic InsanityVAULT Festival, 7th-8th and 14th-15th March 2020Developed on Soho Theatre Writers' Lab 2018-9
reviews and commentary
“Unique and heartfelt... an original piece of informative theatre”— Broadway World
"Of course you wouldn’t want to leave or look away from Nellis’ performance. As Kelly Nellis’ isn’t afraid to portray her as awkward and it felt like a convincing and kind characterisation of someone on the spectrum."
-- Shanine Salmon, View From The Cheap Seats
"Deeply touching
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️--Voice Magazine
"The concept, script and storyline are beautifully formed"--Fringe Guru
"I like the sound of Krystina Nellis’ Glitch about a female video game player."--Lyn Gardner, Stagedoor
"Weird and wonderful... [Glitch] has a lot of warmth, heart and humour"--My Fair Theatre Goer
