Paul Dunn: Writer, Director, Presenter, and Actor

Paul is a writer, director, presenter, and an actor. He is also Editor In Chief (EIC) of Cranked Anvil. He has written numerous short stories, and he has written award-winning stage plays. Paul wrote the official adaptation of Catherine Cookson's The Cinder Path, which toured theatres around the UK, starring two Coronation Street actors - Charles Lawson (Jim MacDonald) and Nic Cochrane (Steve Macdonald).
As well as writing, Paul also performs on stage. He has recently performed with, amongst others, Crissy Rock, Tommy Cannon, Frazer Hines, Chris and Rosie Ramsey, the lads from Auf Wiedersehen Pet, and Barney the Purple Dinosaur!

Interviewing people who are Coquetdale Creatives, those born here, and those who have arrived, has taught me something special. All of them, besides being creative, have been eager and determined to contribute to our community in whatever ways they can.

Paul moved to the area five years ago. He and his best friend, partner, wife Vanessa (Nessy) had begun to tire of the city life they had been enjoying for many years. Their home was in the North East, a place in between Sunderland and County Durham.

I am wondering what links they have with Coquetdale, and ask Paul why they chose to move to here? “The house we had been living in was beginning to feel too small. Also, we had got our lovely little dog, Georgie, who needed more space. Our house, near Rothbury, is exactly right for us all.”

Once Nessy and Paul were settled in their new home they began doing some drama work in local schools. These are very popular sessions which the children enjoy, and it is rewarding to see how these lessons can build children's self-confidence.

I imagine that they are both very good at teaching drama, with their background in Theatre in Education. They toured around the country in both primary and secondary settings for many years.

Paul had been living here for two years when he saw that our local community and church magazine, Over the Bridges, needed help

"I went along to a meeting, thinking I might be able to support, as my background is in writing and editing and publishing. I hadn't gone with the intention of becoming the editor, but that is what I left the meeting as!”

Louise Kirkwood had done a great job as the previous editor, but after 9 years, it was time for her to hand the position on. Paul has made some excellent changes, and the magazine is as popular and relevant as ever. It is a huge and important communication tool for Coquetdale.

Paul has a website, Cranked Anvil. Through this, Paul offers a digital publishing service, and runs international short story, and play-writing, competitions. He also has a critique and feedback service, plus there will soon be audio productions available of the winning stories and scripts.
It is an ambitious and wide-ranging offer, and I wonder how he has time to do it all. But before I ask him this, it was fascinating to find out about his creative background.

For his audition Paul chose two speeches.

The first was surely quite a gamble, probably the most well-known soliloquy of all, from Shakespeare's Hamlet. To make this memorable, though, Paul decided to have an inebriated Hamlet, contemplating taking his life, "while half cut on whisky. I took a bottle as a prop".

Paul also played and sang a comedy version of Rod Stewart's 'I am Sailing'.

He concluded with a speech from 'Speed-the-Plow' by David Mamet.

The choices, and delivery, clearly pleased the judges. In fact, he did not have to wait to find out if he had been accepted as the Principal of the school, June Rose, took him to one side as soon as he had finished and said, "Well we're definitely going to offer you a place".

Starting at Redroofs was a wonderful thing for Paul.

“It was like a new lease of life for me. For the first time, I was popular, recognised for my talent and ability, surrounded by fantastic friends and respected colleagues. Plus, of course, I met my future wife there!

Vanessa Dunn, (stage name, Vanessa Karon) Paul's wife, is also an actor, and the pair often tour together, performing in the same plays. She is also Paul's inspiration.

"She has been by my side, one way or another, since we met at Redroofs in 1995. She is my number one supporter and often sees strength and ability in me that I don't even see myself".

Redroofs' lease on the theatre sadly lapsed in 2023. A campaign was fought to keep the building, which was to be demolished. Happily, it was saved. Even more happily for Paul and Nessy, they were gifted two audience seats before the refurbishment. The seats now sit happily in their house, as do Nessy and Paul! The theatre is so meaningful to them both, that at their wedding in 2023, their cake was in the shape of the Novello Theatre!

“It is such a release. Such a laugh. You can just forget everything that is going on in the world for two hours. It is silly and funny and a bit 'jazz hands'. I even get to do a 'strip tease'!”

Paul is currently touring in a less light-hearted and more serious play, the nationally acclaimed Living the Life of Riley. There are many laughs, but also very serious issues being highlighted. The play is centred on the dynamics of a family coming to terms with their youngest son's autism diagnosis.

A few years ago, Paul was delighted to find himself touring and working with one of his childhood comedy heroes, Tommy Cannon. “I mean, genuinely touring with my childhood comedy hero! I watched Cannon and Ball on a Saturday night as a kid and absolutely loved them”.

It was a real delight, one which meant a great deal, to Paul that Tommy came to his wedding.
“Tommy (and his lovely wife Hazel) were guests at our wedding in 2023. Just before the first dance, as a surprise for Nessy, he agreed to let me duet with him on his and Bobby's famous song, 'Together We'll Be Okay'.

It was a special moment for me and Nessy”.

Perhaps the most acclaimed show of all has been Paul's award-winning performance of the Tom Kelly play: 'I Left My Heart in Roker Park'.

This one man show tells the story of an ordinary man, a Sunderland AFC Supporter, who, like many, lives a life that contains both despair and joy. It is a remarkable piece of writing by the incredibly talented Tom Kelly, and Paul was excellent in it:

'Paul Dunn truly embodies the character. He makes the emotional transitions, both personal and sporting, seamless and carries the audience along with him every step of the way. He is completely at home on the stage and we, the audience, do feel that we are in a one-to-one conversation with this engaging man.' Peter Lathan for the British Theatre Guide

BBC Look North did an article about the play. Cranked Anvil on the BBC

“Well, I knew I wanted it to be two random words. Something that sounded like it could mean something but also was obscure enough to stop and make you think. I was working at Beamish for a couple of years, dressed in the costume of an Edwardian gentleman, sometimes as a miner in a pit village. In the shop, at Beamish, it is kitted out with items that would be on sale in those days. On one of the shelves, I spotted these little boxes of one-inch nails. The brand was 'Anvil'. I already had in mind the word 'Cranked' - and the two words just seemed to fit together.”

He adds, "It's not a very exciting story."
Maybe not, but Paul's story certainly is. It will be interesting to see just what Paul gets up to next.

Watch out for the rekindling of his and Nessy's comedy sketch radio show, on Radio Northumberland. 'Paul and Nessa's Happy Hour'