Paul joined High Peak Theatre Trust as Chief Executive in December 2016.

Paul has a wealth 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 holds 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 Haymarket Theatre from 1991, where he directed many plays and musicals before guiding the artistic vision for the capital project that resulted in the creation of Curve Theatre, opened 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 diverse participants with an equally diverse range of activities.

Paul also directed many highly successful productions of both plays and musicals while in Leicester, including The Pillowman and The Lieutenant of Inishmore by Martin McDonagh, 42nd Street, the European Premiere of The Light in the Piazza, and Chicago which was nominated for a UK Theatre award for Best Musical.

At Buxton Opera House, Paul has directed ambitious large-scale community productions including the musicals West Side Story, Oliver!, Rent, Sweeney Todd, Little Shop of Horrors, Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Company as part of an ever-expanding Learning and Engagement programme. These events attracted new audiences, young participants, and excellent critical response.

In 2021, opening the Buxton International Festival, Paul directed a revival of Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music, starring Janie Dee, to great acclaim. This was followed by 2022's outstanding revival of of Gypsy, starring Joanna Riding as Mama Rose, also for the festival.

Under Paul's leadership, Buxton Opera House secured vital UK government Culture Recovery funding in 2021, and later guided the organisation to achieve Arts Council England NPO status in 2023.

Paul has directed and choreographed many musicals by Stephen Sondheim over the course of his career, including Follies, Sweeney Todd, Pacific Overtures, Into the Woods, and Sunday in the Park with George. He was also privileged to work with the renowned composer on a new version of Merrily We Roll Along. Paul's collaborations also extend to the celebrated musical partnership of Kander and Ebb, with whom he worked on the European premieres of The Rink, and 70, Girls, 70. Paul's acclaimed production of Hairspray recently completed its fourth international tour setting new box office records.

To contact Paul Kerryson, write to:

Buxton Opera House
Water Street
Buxton
Derbyshire
SK17 6XN