Paulette Randall facts for kids

Paulette Randall, born in 1961, is a talented British theatre director. She has Jamaican roots. She is well-known for her work in theatre. She even helped direct the amazing opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics! She was also a leader at the Talawa Theatre Company.

About Paulette Randall

Paulette Randall was born in south London. Her parents came from Jamaica. She went to school in Brixton. When she was 11, she started working in a shop on Saturdays. She said that working in Brixton market taught her a lot about theatre. She met many interesting people and heard their stories.

At 18, she went to drama school. She studied to become an actress at the Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama. After finishing in 1982, she and two friends started their own theatre company. It was called Theatre of Black Women. They created it because there were not many roles for black actors then.

Directing the Olympics Opening Ceremony

Paulette was an Associate Director for the 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony. She worked with the famous director Danny Boyle. Many people noticed her influence on the show. The ceremony celebrated different cultures. This was partly because of Paulette's background. She had directed plays about the African American experience. She also worked with the black theatre company, Talawa.

Making History in Theatre

In 2013, Paulette made history. She became the first black female director to bring a play to the West End. This is a very famous theatre district in London. The play was called Fences. It starred the well-known actor Lenny Henry. The play was shown at the Duchess Theatre.

Awards and Special Recognition

Paulette Randall has received several important awards. These awards celebrate her amazing work in drama.

Honours and Degrees

In 2015, Paulette was made an MBE. This is a special honour given by the Queen for services to drama. In the same year, she received an honorary degree. This was from Brunel University.

Lifetime Achievement Award

In 2016, Paulette received a lifetime achievement award. This award was for her work as a director and writer. It covered her work in both film and TV. The award was given at the WOW Creative Industries Awards. This event is part of the Women of the World Festival.

Key Projects and Productions

Paulette Randall has directed and produced many plays and TV shows. Here are some of her notable projects.

Theatre Productions

• Royal Court Theatre: She directed Blest Be the Tie (2004). She also directed What's in the Cat (2005). This play was about a mixed-race family in the 1970s.
• Other Theatres:
  • She directed Urban Afro Saxons (2003). This play explored what it means to be British.
  • She directed Blues for Mister Charlie (2004). This play by James Baldwin explored racism.
  • She directed Gem of the Ocean (2003, 2004, 2006). This play included powerful scenes about a slave-ship journey.
  • She directed Fences (2013). This play starred Lenny Henry at the Duchess Theatre.

Television Work

Paulette has also worked behind the scenes in television.

• She produced Desmond's (1989).
• She produced Porkpie (1995).
• She produced the second series of The Crouches (2004–05).