Paul Smethurst
Creative Engagement Producer
Paul joined Gecko in 2022 and has a diverse background in theatre, arts education, producing and directing, centering around a passion for engagement. He has a long history with Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures; working for the company as a performer, character principle and rehearsal director. Alongside this, Paul worked as a freelance interdisciplinary artist in the fields of dance, musical theatre, acting and physical theatre with a career spanning Opera and West End productions.
After over a decade as a versatile performing artist, Paul moved into Arts Management and Education. In 2015, Paul was Head of Dance at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, lecturing, coordinating and managing the Dance strand for their BA and MA in Musical Theatre. During this time Paul expanded his creative career and worked extensively as a Director, Movement Director and Choreographer.
Paul works extensively as a practitioner and mentor in the creative learning and education sector and is committed to diversity, inclusion and accessibility.
Most recently, he was Resident Artist for New Adventures; responsible for the strategic direction, conception and delivery of their engagement portfolio, nurturing, transforming and inspiring communities, young people and schools across the UK and internationally.
He is a keen cyclist and yogi, aspiring chef, self-professed geek, gamer, and an active adventurer and lover of nature.