Simon began his career at the Royal Court Theatre, London where he was assistant director to Danny Boyle and Max Stafford Clark. His productions there included the world premiere of Jim Cartwright’s “Road” (which transferred to Lincoln Centre, New York with a cast including Kevin Bacon and Joan Cusack) and Sam Shepard’s “A Lie of the Mind.” Other notable productions include ”Roots” by Arnold Wesker and Brian Friel’s “Making History” at the Royal National Theatre; “Dinner with Friends” at the Hampstead Theatre; “The Rise and Fall of Little Voice” at the Steppenwolf Theatre, Chicago and on Broadway; and “Otherwise Engaged” by Simon Gray at the Criterion Theatre in the West End. In 2010 he directed “Serenading Louie” by Lanford Wilson at the Donmar Warehouse.

Curtis has been extensively linked to BBC Television and Films, and as a producer/executive producer his more than fifty credits include Judi Dench in ABSOLUTE HELL; Alec Guinness and Jeremy Irons in TALES FROM HOLLYWOOD; Kenneth Branagh in SHADOW OF A GUNMAN; Stephen Poliakoff’s Prix Italia winning SHOOTING THE PAST; Mike Nichols in THE DESIGNATED MOURNER; Vanessa Redgrave in MRS. DALLOWAY; Maggie Smith, Natasha Richardson and Rob Lowe in SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER; David Hare’s VIA DOLOROSA directed by Stephen Daldry; and Sondheim’s COMPANY directed by Sam Mendes.

Directing for film and television include the first season of “Tracey Takes On...” (HBO) with Tracey Ullman and Hugh Laurie; John Malkovich and Miranda Richardson in Pinter’s OLD TIMES; Hugh Grant in THE CHANGELING; Anne Bancroft in THE MOTHER; Lee Hall’s THE STUDENT PRINCE; THE SINS with Pete Postlethwaite; Rachel Weisz in MY SUMMER WITH DES; and DAVID COPPERFIELD adapted by Adrian Hodges with Maggie Smith, Ian McKellen, Bob Hoskins, Imelda Staunton and introducing Daniel Radcliffe, which won the Peabody Award 2001. His film of TWENTY THOUSAND STREETS UNDER THE SKY with Sally Hawkins was nominated for four best drama awards, including Banff Festival 2006 and screened at the Telluride Film Festival 2006. He directed THE AMAZING MRS PRITCHARD for BBC ONE with Jane Horrocks and Carey Mulligan, and was Executive Producer and director of Golden Globe and BAFTA-nominated FIVE DAYS with Hugh Bonneville and Janet McTeer for the BBC and HBO.

In 2007 he directed Judi Dench, Eileen Atkins, Michael Gambon and Imelda Staunton in the BAFTA and EMMY winning CRANFORD, for which he received a BAFTA nomination, and “Freezing” with Hugh Bonneville, Tom Hollander and Elizabeth McGovern.

In 2008 he directed A SHORT STAY IN SWITZERLAND by Frank McGuinness, which won Best Actress Monte Carlo Festival 2009 for Julie Walters and won Broadcast Best Film 2010 and was nominated for a BAFTA. Last year he directed the BAFTA and Emmy-winning CRANFORD 2 with a cast including Judi Dench, Imelda Staunton, Jonathan Pryce, Tim Curry, Jodie Whittaker and Tom Hiddleston.

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