About

I started performing comedy and spoken word sets on the small-scale cabaret and comedy circuit. I premiered my debut solo show, Reshape While Damp, at the Edinburgh Fringe. Following a great reception, I took the show to FIRST: a Festival of Solo Performances, at the Tristan Bates Theatre, London. I also headlined Change, a festival of new writing for Pulse Ensemble Theatre in New York.

I’ve gone on to write and perform my own work across the UK. I enjoy experimenting with style and content and finding out what works well for audiences in different settings. My performance incorporates monologue, spoken word and song, and my stories can be poignant, surreal and funny – sometimes all at once.

In 2018 I had a very successful 2-week run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with my solo comedy theatre show, Despite Everything, Price Still Includes Biscuits. I also toured a story-cabaret show Truth and Truffles during 2017-8, performing songs and true-life stories in rural venues with storyteller Cat Weatherill.

I’ve toured the solo show this year to Wolverhampton, Leicester, Birmingham and Burton-upon-Trent. I had a great run at the Brighton Fringe in May with the award-winning venue, Junkyard Dogs and at the Buxton Festival Fringe at another fab venue, The Green Man Gallery. There have been brilliant audiences all round. I had another excellent 2-week run in August back at the Edinburgh Fringe and there are lovely audience comments here

I also delivered a creative travel writing piece and performed poetry at the Borders and Crossings conference at the University of Leicester in July.

I’m currently co-organising – and performing in – pARTy Lines, a literary cabaret for Birmingham Literature Festival on Oct 8th. More details can be found here

Listen to an interview with Paul Levy of Fringe Review about my work – both writing and performing – recorded in Edinburgh in 2016. There is a recent interview recorded at the Brighton Fringe 2019 here

Gigs

2019

October 8
pARTy Lines- a literary cabaret
The Old Joint Stock Pub and Theatre Venue
4 Temple Row West, B2 5NY
8 – 9.30pm £5.00 entry
Further information and booking details here

November 15
Despite Everything, Price Still Includes Biscuits (solo show)
South Scarle Community Centre
further details to be confirmed

December 16
True Life Stories (guest performer)
The Hayloft at the Organ Grinder
4. Woodgate,
Loughborough, LE11 2TY
7.30 – 9pm.

Past Shows

Reviews

‘A sprinkling of nicely observed Victoria Wood-style songs add to the charm of her multi-layered subtle little show.’

– Ludlow Fringe, 2017
★★★★☆

‘Paul’s deadpan delivery casts a spell over her audience.”

– Edinburgh 49, 2016
★★★★☆

‘Naomi’s style of delivery is gentle, engaging and alert to audience responses Indeed the point of the biscuits she hands out is to provide a short break in which we can talk to each other. This is a fine comic celebration of modern Britain, whose only comic victim is the odd Government minister.’

– British Theatre Guide, 2015
★★★★☆

‘Terrific deadpan delivery of material that is topical and relevant. Audiences loved it!‘

– Alexa Kelly, Artistic Director,
Pulse Ensemble Theatre, New York

‘Naomi Paul wowed the audience with her own brand of deadpan Jewish humour.’

– Jewish Telegraph

‘Fabulous: sharp, cultural, witty, poignant and very, VERY funny.’

– Audience member, Birmingham Fest

‘A quietly intelligent and entertaining show… highly recommend it. She is wonderful!’

– Audience member, Edinburgh

Workshops

I’m an experienced workshop leader, facilitator and teacher, working with a diverse range of participants in various settings.

‘Her writing, performance and considered wit guarantee a great session.’

‘The air buzzed with creative tension as we scribbled away.’

I’ve given workshops for Writers Without Borders on the structure of poetry and using humour. I also deliver performance workshops to help participants develop their stories for an audience, and co-ran a short course for Writing West Midlands called True Words – Personal Storytelling.

‘We astonished ourselves with the actual and potential humour in what we managed to create.’

‘The kindness, openness and gentleness of the group. An excellent place to try out difficult things.’

Read a Review

Contact

If you would like to book a performance or workshop, please use the form below and I’ll send you more information.