Paul joined High Peak Theatre Trust as Chief Executive in December 2016.
Paul has many years of executive leadership experience and has received numerous accolades for his services to the theatre Industry. In 2015 Paul was awarded an MBE at the New Year’s Honours; he is an honorary doctorate from De Montfort University and was named one of the industry’s ‘100 most influential people of 2015’ by The Stage newspaper. Paul also received the UK Theatre Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Theatre in 2014.
Paul was appointed Artistic Director of Leicester Theatre Trust from 1991, guiding the artistic vision for the capital project that resulted in the creation of Curve, a totally inclusive theatre that was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 2008.
During the following years at the Curve, he was credited for introducing a programme of community engagement – one of the first of its kind to reach thousands of participants with a diverse range of activities.
Paul was also responsible for many of the city’s biggest and most successful shows, attracting world famous artists and producers to the theatre including Akram Khan, Cameron Mackintosh, Emma Rice, Matthew Bourne and Stephen Sondheim.
Throughout his time at the Curve Paul also self-directed many highly successful productions of both plays and musicals, including The Pillowman and The Lieutenant of Inishmore by Martin McDonagh, The King and I, which sold out on a national tour, Gypsy, 42nd Street and Chicago which was nominated for a UK Theatre award for Best Musical.
He returned to the Curve to direct a record breaking production of Oliver!, whist the hugely successful production of Hairspray created under Paul’s direction is set to go on its third international tour next year and which had a record breaking week at Buxton Opera House in October 2017.
Recently Paul has directed ambitious large scale community productions of the musicals West Side Story, Oliver! and Rent at Buxton Opera House as part of an expanding Learning and Engagement programme. These events attracted new audiences, young participants and excellent critical response.
To contact Paul Kerryson, write to:
Buxton Opera House
Water Street
Buxton
Derbyshire
SK17 6XN