Paul Wills

Awards

2020 - Fleur du Cap Theatre Award for Best Set Design for Kinky Boots

Nominations

2023 - What’s On Stage Award for Best Revival for Shirley Valentine at Duke Of York’s Theatre, for which Paul designed Set & Costume

2019 - Olivier Award for Best Revival for King Lear at Duke Of York’s Theatre, for which Paul designed Set & Costume


Paul Wills is a critically acclaimed, international designer with extensive work in theatre, musical theatre and opera. Paul studied Scenography at Bretton Hall University and has collaborated with many directors. Paul designs for stage and stories on a global scale from London’s West End to Shibuya in Tokyo.


A Comedy of Errors - Shakespeare’s Globe
The props and costumes here, wittily designed by Paul Wills, have just the right amount of pizazz to raise a chuckle (who knew a gold chain could be genuinely funny?)
— ★★★★ - The Guardian
Shirley Valentine - Duke of York’s Theatre
Scarcely has the curtain gone up on Paul Wills’s pitch-perfect set before a ready smile from our star clues us into a rapport that continues straight through to the rapturous curtain call.
— ★★★★ - The Arts Desk
King Lear - Duke of York’s Theatre
Paul Wills’s design bisects the stalls with a raised runway, leading to an intimate state chamber; later, when the action shifts to Dover, the wood panelling and red carpet are replaced with stark, bone-coloured chalk. It allows us an unnerving close-up view of the play’s violence and catastrophic disintegration, and of McKellen’s agonised unravelling.
— ★★★★ The Times
American Buffalo - Wyndham’s London
... in Paul Wills’s astonishing vertical design...
— ★★★★ - The Guardian

Gallery


2024

Production

Company

Rent! Theater St Gallen, Dir. Matthew Wild
Wedding Band: A Love Hate Story in Black and White Lyric Hammersmith, Dir. Monique Touko
King Lear Metropolitan Theatre, Tokyo, Dir. Sean Holmes
Here You Come Again Leeds Playhouse & UK Tour, Dir. Gabriel Barre

2023

Production

Company

Shirley Valentine Duke of York's Theatre, Dir. Matthew Dunster, Lighting Des. Lucy Carter
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf Theatre Royal Bath - Ustinov Studio, Dir. Lindsay Posner
The Comedy of Errors Shakespeare's Globe, Dir. Sean Holmes
School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play Lyric Hammersmith, Dir. Monique Touko, Set Des. Paul Wills
Fun Home Gate Theatre, Dir. Róisín McBrinn, Set Des. Paul Wills
Les Misérables West End, Dirs. James Powell & Laurence Connor, Costume Des. Andreane Neofitou & Christine Rowland & Paul Wills
Les Misérables Korea Tour, Dirs. James Powell & Laurence Connor, Costume Des. Andreane Neofitou & Christine Rowland & Paul Wills
Off Menu Podcast Live with Ed Gamble and James Acaster UK Tour, Set Des. Paul Wills

2022

Production

Company

The Taxidermist's Daughter Chichester Festival Theatre, Dir. Róisín McBrinn
The Steward of Christendom Gate Theatre, Dir. Louise Lowe
The Tempest Shakespeare's Globe, Dir. Sean Holmes, Associate Des. Sandra Falase
The Clinic The Almeida, Dir. Monique Touko
Les Misérables US Tour, Dirs. James Powell & Laurence Connor, Costume Des. Andreane Neofitou & Christine Rowland, Additional Costume Design. Paul Wills

2021

Production

Company

A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story Nottingham Playhouse & Alexandra Palace, Dir. Adam Penford
Les Misérables West End & UK Tour, Dirs. James Powell & Laurence Connor, Costume Des. Andreane Neofitou & Christine Rowland, Costume Design Consultant Paul Wills

2019

Production

Company

Admissions Trafalgar Studios, Dir. Daniel Aukin
The Monstrous Child Royal Opera House, Linbury Theatre, Dir. Timothy Sheader, Movement Dir. Josie Daxter
Kinky Boots The Fugard Theatre (Cape Town), Dir. Matthew Wild, Costume Des. Birrie Le Roux
THE SNAPPER (Revival) Gate Theatre, Dublin, Dir. Róisín McBrinn

2018

Production

Company

An Enemy of The People Theatre Cocoon, Bunkamura, Tokyo, Dir. Jonathan Munby
Shakespeare in Love The Fugard Theatre, Cape Town, Dir. Greg Karrelas
King Lear Duke of York's Theatre, Dir. Jonathan Munby
The Snapper Gate Theatre, Dublin, Dir. Róisín McBrinn
The Four Seasons: A Reimagining Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, Dirs. Directors: Finn Caldwell & Toby Olié
Hamlet Royal Shakespeare Company & UK Tour, Dir. Simon Godwin
Frozen Theatre Royal Haymarket, Dir. Jonathan Munby
Lady Windermere's Fan Vaudeville Theatre, Dir. Kathy Burke

2017

Production

Company

Shakespeare in Love The Fugard Theatre, Cape Town, Dir. Greg Karrelas
King Lear Minerva Theatre, Chichester, Dir. Jonathan Munby
King Kong Fugard Theatre, Cape Town, Dir. Jonathan Munby
Measure for Measure Theatre For A New Audience, New York, Dir. Simon Godwin
Occupational Hazards Hampstead Theatre, Dir. Simon Godwin
Mrs Henderson Presents Royal Alexander Theatre, Toronto, Dir. Terry Johnson, Set Des. Tim Shortall
Running Wild UK Tour, Dir. Timothy Sheader

2016

Production

Company

A Room with a View Theatre Royal Bath & Tour, Dir. Adrian Noble
First Light Minerva Theatre, Chichester, Dir. Jonathan Munby
Running Wild Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Dirs. Timothy Sheader & Dale Rooks
Juno and the Paycock Gate Theatre Dublin, Dir. Mark O’Rowe
Hamlet Royal Shakespeare Company, Dir. Simon Godwin