A little about Paula...
Paula James is an actor, puppeteer, singer, composer, musical director, writer and musician who plays classical, electric and bass guitar, upright and double bass, mandolin and keyboard. Having studied classical guitar under Peter Woodings from the age of eight, the guitar is one of her prominent loves! She began writing classical guitar pieces for soloists, before progressing to composing for ensembles and casts, and her work has been performed in shows and concerts in the UK, Italy and Norway.
Paula began singing at an even earlier age, studying classical singing with Malcolm Parker and developing her style and vocal versatility over years of concert and show performances. She attended Drama Studio London (DSL) where she studied acting and began integrating her music and composition skills into her acting work from her very first job.
Two years ago, Paula was awarded an Arts Council Developing Your Creative Practice (DYCP) grant, which allowed her dedicated time to develop her artistry as a composer for theatre and live arts. This invaluable opportunity led to her first Composer and Musical Director role on the actor-muso production of The Importance of Being Earnest, directed by Natasha Rickman, at Storyhouse Chester’s 500-seat open-air theatre in Grosvenor Park.
She has since worked as the composer on Cockpit Theatre's Church Street Goes Wild, and as composer and musical director on and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, directed by Matt Hassall (Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond), and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, directed by Ellie Hurt (Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre). She works as a musical director and music supervisor while continuing her work as a performer.
This year Paula has appeared in Lindsay Posner's production of Equus, at the Menier Chocolate Factory and Theatre Royal Bath, and is currently appearing in the actor-musician show Franz and Marie at the Charring Cross Theatre.
In 2025 she returned to EastEnders in her role as Justine, and appeared in Paramount’s thriller series The Agency. She helped R&D Polka Theatre's Olivier Award nominated production The Firework Maker's Daughter based on a book by Philip Pullman. Paula then closed out the year playing Mother Pig in the fantastic production of Styles & Drewe’s The Three Little Pigs, directed by Jade Lewis. This lovely show (performed at the Unicorn Theatre and CFT’s Minerva Theatre) was also nominated for best Family Show at the 2026 Olivier Awards!
Since graduating from DSL, Paula has gained extensive experience on stage in plays, new musicals and family shows featuring actor-musicians. She has toured the UK and internationally, performing in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s FE: The Comedy of Errors (2018), Goblin Theatre’s The Lost Spells (2023) and Tutti Frutti’s Snow Child (2016).
She works regularly as a theatre maker, contributing to the creation and development of productions as both performer and creative, including R&Ds for Velkro (A New Musical) directed by Lucy Betts, and Jockstrap (The Production Exchange). She can be heard on the studio cast recordings for the comedy musical Bluff by Ed Zander and Matt Cavendish, and the album Goldi, Red and Gingerbread by Hiccup Theatre, and her solo EP Shelter.
Take a look through this website for more information, music samples and details of Paula’s projects.