HE GOES ON A BIT, THAT LAD
A comedy writer/performer based in Cambridge, Paul has written over 40 shows (over a period of 21 years) that have somehow ended up at the Edinburgh Fringe festival.
His plays have been published in the UK and Canada, and have been performed all over the world. Well, mostly the UK, the US and once in South Africa.
50 Ways to Leave Your Drummer; Paul’s bizarre film/total and utter breakdown, in which he spent 18 months trying to get sacked by 50 bands, premiered at the Arts Picturehouse, Cambridge in November 2015. Those to have ‘fired’ Paul for the movie include Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson, John Otway, Frank Turner, Heaven 17, Nik Kershaw and comedian Arthur Smith. Paul then turned the concept into a late-night stage-show, which ran for 22 nights at the Banshee Labyrinth during the 2016 fringe.
Paul tours the UK frequently including, in 2017, a tour which saw him travel from the Portland Island (Weymouth) to the Shetland Islands (Scotland, and then up a fair bit) using public transport only, using his box drum as a suitcase.
Paul’s 2018 show, Short Plays for Marvellous People won him his first award, whilst his 2019 one-man play, Harvey Greenfield is Running Late has been lauded by both The Scotsman and the BBC, had a run in the heart of London’s West End following three hugely successful weeks at the Edinburgh Fringe and was made into a feature-film, which premiered at the Dublin International Comedy Film Festival and won three awards whilst there, before picking up awards elsewhere on the film circuit (Paul himself has won "best male actor in a feature film" twice now, which is baffling as he still denies he's actually an actor). The follow-up, Harvey Greenfield is Getting Married, ran at the fringe in 2022 to critical acclaim, as much as Paul doesn’t like it as much and he went back to touring the first one. 2025 finally saw the end of Harvey, finishing on 145 performances with a sold-out show at the inaugural Rik Mayall Comedy Festival in Droitwich.
Paul’s other 2022 show, My Function Band Hell, ran for a month at the Edinburgh Fringe and was later nominated for ‘best musical comedy’ at the Leicester Comedy Festival in 2023.
Paul took his one-man play, Is This the End of Edward J. Payne to New York in June 2023, opening for four gloriously sweaty nights, before an inevitable run in Edinburgh.
His percussion-led comedy, The Only Drummer in Town, opened at the Brighton Fringe in 2023 and toured throughout 2024. A new drumming comedy show, Finn(egan): Death By Congas, launches in 2026.
Paul’s dark comedy, No Dreams Are Left in This Head Overnight, opened in Theirs, France in 2025, before touring. His somewhat messy musical comedy, There's a Band Playing at the Social Club Tonight, also toured throughout that year.
He has four new solo shows for 2026, because...well, why not?
He likes to write for other people, too, Paul enjoys hanging out with 'proper' actors and is fascinated by how good they are when he gives them a slightly rushed first draft, they make his work look so bloody wonderful. But, also, this biog is getting a bit long, so if you're really that interested, check out this page and see a full show history. In fact, he formed Shoulder Cat Productions mostly because he wants to write more for other people - if you're an interested actor, do ping us a message.
He's been in films, and has also written a load of books but he then fell out with Amazon so they're not on sale there anymore. He still has the odd physical copy knocking about though...
REVIEWS
“Like an alternative Ferris Bueller…the escalating web of chaos is skilfully scripted in the vein of a classic film comedy. ****” - The Scotsman (on Paul’s show, Harvey Greenfield is Running Late)
”There are no number of stars that can describe spending an hour with the explosive bundle of nervous energy that is Harvey Greenfield AKA Paul Richards…a fascinating continuation of an ongoing on-stage off-stage saga.” - The Scotsman (on Paul’s show, Harvey Greenfield is Getting Married)
"Paul Richards brings energy in abundance and charmingly, wittily, tells his tale, but the tale is a cautionary one : ignore strains upon your mental health at your peril. It is most definitely a Fringe show for our times and is highly recommended." - FringeReview (on Paul’s show, Harvey Greenfield is Running Late - 'Highly Recommended Show' - Brighton Fringe 2023)
“Richards seems to have comic energy to burn…he makes Lee Evans seems narcoleptic by comparison. The result is mostly laugh-out-loud, but punctuated with sorrow. Ingeniously written and powerfully performed. “ - The Swindonian (on Paul’s show, Harvey Greenfield is Running Late)
”Such an amazing performance. A must experience show.” - Sure Marchant - BBC Radio Cambridgeshire (on Paul’s show, Harvey Greenfield is Running Late)
"This riotously funny show might just be the funniest hour you spend at this year's fringe. Everyone was in stitches throughout." - The Write Angle (on Paul’s show, The Complete History of Pop in an Hour)
"The script is always fresh...its hilarity burns through constantly, without ever fizzling out." - Tychy blog (on Paul's show, Little Sparks)
“Sweet, grounded and self-deprecating...Paul delivers his stories with a genuine honesty that is immediately endearing.” – Heckler magazine (on Paul’s show, Things Could Be Marvellous)
"The fastest dictation in the west! Poignant, acutely observed comedy which prompts both laughter and introspection." - Theatrefest review (on Paul’s show, Short Plays for Marvellous People)
"Watching Paul Richards on stage is quite a dynamic experience...despite the apparently chaotic nature of the show and the performer, the writing underpinning everything was particularly artful and layered...there are real fleeting moments of wistful melancholy. A puppy wired on own-brand energy drink, you wouldn’t believe he ever sleeps, not once you’ve seen him on stage." - The Swindonian (on Paul’s show, Short Plays for Marvellous People)
“Paul delivers his stories with heart-warming honesty…Paul Richards constantly makes you smile – **** ” – Get Reading (on Paul’s show, Getting Lost in my Hometown)
"Paul Richards’ musical style of comedy will sit well with an audience who likes their comedy with a dash of whimsy; simple yet imaginative, it’s a charming show that’ll tickle you silly." - Visit Dublin (on Paul’s show, One Man and a Box)