Paul’s first foray into the world of performing was at the end of the pier at Blackpool when he sang on ‘The Sooty Show’ with the original Harry Corbett. He enjoyed the sound of the applause and decided to pursue it!
Paul went on to study piano under Antony Goldstone at Chethams School of Music. During his time at Chethams Paul also composed music for Granada Television’s documentary ‘A Gift for Music’ produced and directed by Peter Plummer. He then chose to take a performance degree at the Colchester Institute where he received the Canon Jack Award for Solo Recital Playing and the Stevens Award. He studied piano under Peter Element and singing with Nancy Evans. This was followed by a postgraduate course at The Royal College of Music also with Peter Element, as well as working as accompanist with renowned teachers Meriel St Clair and Lyndon Van Der Pump.
Before being seduced into the world of theatre Paul spent his early career as an accompanist working with such eminent musicians as Esther Salaman Hamburger, Laura Sarti, Noel Barker, Johanna Peters, and Peter Pears as well as Anthony Bowles during his tenure at the GSMD Drama Department. Paul also worked alongside Carey Blyton on his one act opera ‘The Girl from Nogami’. He appeared regularly on the BBC’s ‘The Pianist Entertains’, as well as soloist on ‘Friday Night is Music Night’ on Radio 2. Paul has appeared as recitalist accompanist and chamber musician in the UK and Europe performing the Gershwin Piano Concerto in Brussels and Wembley. His solo piano album is called ‘Encore’. Paul conducted the first revival for fifty years of the English Ring - Maritana Bohemian Girl and Lilly of Killarney.
Film and TV credits include ‘Night on the Town’ (Brent Walker) ‘Handel’s Resurrection’ (Klaus Lindemann/Bayerische Rundfunk)’Campion’ (BBC), Michael Grade’s ‘The Story of Music Hall’, and ‘Champagne Charlie’. Paul wrote the score to the film ‘The Barre’ produced by Tambrisk Pictures, ‘A Dancers Journey’ (Flett Films) and with Michael Rouse ‘Geoff’. Paul was Musical Director on Shoreditch Pictures production of ‘The Secret’.
Paul is passionate about playing the piano both as soloist and accompanist. As actor/musician he has appeared in ‘42nd Street’ (Theatre Royal Drury Lane) ‘Forbidden Broadway’ (Jermyn Street, Fortune and Noel Coward Theatres) ‘Here’s a How Dee Doo’ with John Judd, (Arts Theatre, Canada and Radio 2 serialisation) ‘Champagne Charlie’ with Christopher Beeching, (Wiltons Music Hall) ‘A Tale of Cock and Bull’ with John Griffiths, (Regents Park Studio and Cliveden) ‘Cocktail Theatre’ with Bruce Morrison, ‘Grimsley and Tibbs’ with Richard Bremmer, ‘At the Drop of a Hat’ with Clive Hayward, ‘Records in My bedroom with Andy Young (The Comedy Museum) ‘Lullaby of Broadway” with Lesley Anne Knight ‘The Happy Hour’ with Nicholas Parsons, and ‘Two’s A Crowd’ with Rosalind Plowright John Pohlhammer and Sean Whittle. With West End legend Rosemary Ashe, Paul has played for ‘The Killer Soprano’(The Pheasantry), ‘Serious Cabaret’ and most recently ‘Call Me Merman’ (Jermyn Street Theatre, Crazy Coqs and The Pheasantry). Paul directed and co devised ‘Ode to Joyce’ (The Other Palace and tour) celebrating the life and humour of Joyce Grenfell and starring Cheryl Knight (no relation!).
Paul’s original musicals are ‘Ello Ello Ello (Oldham Coliseum) ‘Bunter’ (Northcote Theatre) ‘Esther’ (Spitalfields Festival and Palace Theatre) ’Shake The Nation ‘(Liverpool Cathedral and Spitalfields Festival), ‘Treasure Island’ (Hidden Pearl at Kings Head) ‘Christmas Carol’ (Hidden Pearl at The Shaw Theatre) ‘Jeopardy’ (Hidden Pearl at Waterloo East), ‘Should Auld Acquaintance’ (Chester Gateway) ’Prisoner of Panto’ (Calgary and London) ‘Rights of Man’ (Arts University Bournemouth) and seven Christmas shows for Oxford Playhouse Productions.
As a composer Paul works collaboratively with various artists including Saira Peter the British Pakistani opera singer. Together with the writer Zafar Francis and ethnomusicologist Stephen Smith they are creating a fusion opera based on the story of ‘Marvi.’ Paul has also recorded with Bollywood percussionist Taufiq Qureshi.
Paul has written scores for the ballet ‘City Slick ‘(created by Stephen Long) ‘Caucasian Chalk Circle’ (Box Clever) and ‘Othello’ (Wooden O). For Oxford Shakespeare Company, he has scored ‘Winter’s Tale’, ‘Comedy of Errors’, ‘Macbeth’ and ‘The Merry Wives of Windsor’ all directed by Christopher Pickles. Paul also composed an original score for the 400th anniversary of the first performance of Macbeth which was produced in its original setting at the Great Hall Hampton Court also for OSC.
For Edward Andrews and Eleanor Russo’s Bedouin Shakespeare Company and the Globe Theatre in Rome he has composed soundscapes and scores for ‘Comedy of Errors’ (2015) ‘The Tempest’ (2016) ‘Much Ado’ (2017) ‘The Merchant of Venice’ (2018) ‘Romeo and Juliet’ (2019) and 'Othello' (2022) directed by Christopher Pickles.
Paul was musical director on five national tours of David Wood’s Whirligig Theatre Company. He is musical supervisor and arranger for ‘Spot’s Birthday Party’. He has arranged and conducted various styles of musicals from ‘Goodnight Mr. Tom’, ‘Applause’ and ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ to ‘Shout’ the 60’s musical ‘Jacques Brel is Alive and Well’ to a host of pantomimes and revues most recently with That’s Entertainment Productions where as well as three pantomimes Paul was musical supervisor when they presented both Dana and Syd Little in concert.
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As an educationalist Paul is a sought-after vocal coach. He has been connected to many educational establishments most recently with the Arts University Bournemouth where he has taught on the Actor Creator programme and has also written two musicals for specific cohorts for their final degree. The first with writer Chloe Austin was ‘The Turn of the Screw’ and the latest site-specific piece written with Crispin Harris is ‘Masque Macabre’ based on the short stories of Guy de Maupassant. These shows are available on licence.
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Paul is a regular visitor to Jackdaws Music Education Trust. He has also been active in youth theatre working with the National Youth Music Theatre (Billy, Guys and Dolls), and has given many vocal workshops for both amateur and professional singers. His vocal book ‘Sing!’ is used by professional and amateurs alike, and is published as a workbook, and download by Hal Leonard.