Born in Bolton, England, Paul emigrated to SA, aged 2. He spent his childhood in Modderfontein, Witbank and Musina. Matriculated at Brothers of Charity College in Pietersburg (Polokwane) before attending the University of Cape Town, where he graduated with a B.A. (Drama) degree. A founder member of SA’s first non-racial theatre company, the THE SPACE in Cape Town (along with Athol Fugard, John Kani, Yvonne Bryceland, Jaqui Singer and Bill Flynn) in 1972.

In Johannesburg (with Mannie Manim & Barney Simon) he was a founder member of the world renowned MARKET THEATRE COMPANY in 1976.

In 1983, Paul received the Standard Bank YOUNG ARTIST OF THE YEAR AWARD.

In 2023, Paul received a Naledi LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD.

As an actor, Paul has appeared in well over 100 STAGE and TV PLAYS, as well as 25 FEATURE FILMS. Highlights include – Frederick Courtney Selous in RHODES (BBC); Jan Christiaan Smuts, in THE APPRENTICESHIP OF A MAHATMA and Mr Johnson in MISTER JOHNSON. Numerous Best Actor Awards for Stage include Biff in DEATH OF A SALESMAN, Chance Wayne in SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH, Kaspar in Pieter Handke’s KASPAR, Smitty in FORTUNE AND MENS’ EYES (where he won his first DALRO Best Actor Award in 1976), Mercutio in ROMEO & JULIET, Chandebise/Poche in A FLEA IN HER EAR. As Eddie, in his own play THE RETURN OF ELVIS DU PISANIE, he became the first actor in SA to win every Best Actor Award nationwide in a single year (Vita, Fleur du Cap and DALRO, 1993).

With over thirty-five plays to his credit, Paul is arguably (after Athol Fugard) South

Africa’s foremost playwright, his work having been performed in the UK, the USA,

Germany, France, Australia, Sweden, Denmark and the Middle East.