I’m an experienced pantomime director who is passionate about the form, having directed a total of 12 pantomime productions and written six. I’ve also written an article on the subject of pantomime as our last surviving form of truly popular theatre, which you can read here. If you would like to read one of my pantomime scripts and enquire about the rights for a production please send an e-mail.

Press

“My cheeks ache from laughing so hard…the script is as bold as it is funny…I cackled aloud”
- Hull Daily Mail on Red Riding Hood (2023)

“Middle Child have always put Hull at the very centre of everything they do and it’s always such a pleasure to see. Red Riding Hood is no exception. You can tell that Middle Child enjoys doing their pantos as much as audiences love watching them.”
- Hull Is This on Red Riding Hood (2023)

“The writing and direction from Paul Smith is packed with topical humour amongst the quickfire puns…Smith’s work on these people’s pantos is characterised by a gentle pulling back of the proverbial curtain, picking at the edges of panto convention”
- Hull Is This on Robin Hood : Prince of Thorngumbald (2022)

“Chaotic, lively and energetically performed panto that celebrates its home city…The jokes in Paul Smith’s witty script put bigger budget pantos to shame. ”
- The Stage on Rapunz’ull (2021)

“Paul Smith has created a satirical romp. There are sprinklings of topical humor but it never feels it is leaning too hard on knowing nods to doing theatre in a post-covid landscape. Smith’s writing and direction plays on panto convention with a great understanding of what makes pantomime tick.”
- Hull Is This on Rapunz’ull (2021)

“This Hull-set take on Hans Christian Andersen’s fairytale impresses both with its performances and inventiveness…the budget might be low but the gag-count is high. Paul Smith’s script is packed with real wit – and an abundance of fish puns…it all feels, as ever, as much a party as a panto.”
- The Stage on The Little Mermaid (2019)

“a genuinely funny and engaging script…feels far closer to the anarchic spirit of the season than glitzier shows”
- The Stage on Beauty and the Beast (2018)

“Witty, charming and anarchic…there’s a fizzy energy to it all”
- The Stage on Cinderella (2017)