Paul Barnhill is the founder and artistic director of Goofus Theatre. He trained at the East 15 Acting School, the Curious School of Puppetry and clowning with Angela de Castro at the Why Not Institute. 

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He has worked extensively in the world of show business for over 40 years, starting in street theatre where he was given money to move away.

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He has appeared on TV in various roles for the BBC and ITV etc playing lots of lawyers, policeman, dads, funeral directors and pathologists. He has dressed up in bad costumes a lot, playing lead and supporting roles in theatres everywhere including the West End, Regional theatres and with touring companies playing all over the UK and abroad, from wearing macho skimpy Roman outfits with the RSC to being dressed as a very hairy Mr Beaver in a huge circus tent in Kensington Gardens, London.

 

He has co-written and acted in various comedy series for BBC Radio 4 and 7. His film work includes being seen in a vintage, silk Chinese outfit in Mike Leigh’s Topsy Turvy to working with a very friendly giant in The BFG and wearing a tight blue pullover, playing a baddie, in the Sci Fi fantasy Ready Player One, both directed by Steven Spielberg.

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He formed Goofus in 2012, to create a fantastical anarchic theatre with puppetry, mask, clowning, music and mayhem for all and has been performing, creating, writing and directing for Goofus ever since.