Delighted to be back in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at Kings Theatre after three years

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is back at the Kings Theatre, Southsea in a Portsmouth Theatres’ production running from April 9-19.

And the great thing is that Paul is enjoying the whole thing even more this time around: “I did it three years ago at The Kings and I had such an incredible time. I was so blown away by the professionalism of what we were able to achieve that it just feels an incredible privilege to be coming back and doing it now. I've had lots of people saying it must be so easy to come back to a role and to be doing it again, but I think it's really different this time. I really feel that I am coming back to it in a different way. So much has changed in those three years and I think I'm much more relaxed now. I think now I'm enjoying the process so much more.

“It is a big part. Caractacus Potts in the First Act goes off for one scene but otherwise is on for the whole thing. He’s the string that holds the whole thing together, and I remember the last time I really felt the pressure of that. Obviously I was aware of that as a professional actor, but it kind of weighed me down. But I think this time round I'm able to think yes, I understand that now and just be happy in the character that I am playing. I am three years older now and I've got three kids and they are three years older now, and Mr Potts just feels so natural. It feels like such a dad thing to do and that's because I am a dad!

“It's just great fun. Caractacus Potts has to have great energy to carry the show but you've also got to give him a sense of relatability. He is the father and he is someone who is trying his hardest to allow his kids to grow up in a safe and encouraging way but at the same time he doesn't really know what he's doing! He makes his ridiculous machines but at the same time you have to see the creative genius in his inventions. So I think really this time round I just want to be honest with him.”

Paul is Portsmouth based and has lived in Portsmouth all his life apart from when he studied at GSA: “From there I went into the industry and did a few things, nothing major. I spent two years trying to do what I could and then I thought I really needed money. I was married as well and so I went into teaching singing and just started teaching. I taught at South Downs College and then I was at Chichester University for five years. I've been out of that for three years but I'm now the principal of Portsmouth Theatre Arts Academy.”

A performing arts school based in Portsmouth offering Saturday morning training sessions for students, the academy focuses on nurturing creative skills: “We base ourselves at the Theatre Royal and also the university, and really it's an education programme. We teach kids from the age of three up to 18 or 19, and they learn musical theatre. It’s great fun.”