Pinocchio has become one of the most successful musicals in Paul Boyd's catalogue of work with seven professional productions of the show already staged since the first production in 2003.

The premiere production of the show was named 'Best Musical 2003' by Northern Ireland's national Sunday newspaper The Sunday Life, and the 2006 - 2007 Lyric Theatre production quickly became the Belfast venue's most successful musical in eight years.  

In September 2007 the Lyric's production, which was directed for the stage by Paul Boyd, was nominated for The Equity Theatre Award for Best Show for Children and Young People at the 2007 TMA Theatre Awards (now called the UK Theatre Awards) marking it out as one of the top three productions in its category produced nationally.

"a sophisticated musical, whose sheeny   

production standards are of the highest quality ...   

 some moments of pure enchantment ...   

a show that demands to run and run"

Irish Times

Based on the world-famous story by Carlo Collodi, Pinocchio tells the tale of the little wooden boy who wishes he were real.  In one of Paul Boyd's funniest scripts well-known characters are given a special twist and a memorable story is told with charm, wit and sophistication.  

The show is performed by a multi-roleplaying cast of five and features the songs “G.E.P.P.E.T.T.O”, “The Giant Whale” and “Come Straight Home” as well as Pinocchio’s ballad “Boy of Wood”, The Blue-Haired Fairy’s comical “Fairy's Song”, the Mysterious Man's “Only A Matter of Time” and the show-stopping Broadway-style marionette musical “A Chorus Pine!”.

PRESS REVIEWS

"The music and theatrical vision of Paul Boyd - a truly class act ... Boyd’s Pinocchio is a sophisticated musical, whose sheeny production standards are of the highest quality ... blends brassy glitz and kitsch with sweet, youthful innocence ... some hilarious scenes ... some moments of pure enchantment ... It is difficult to know who laughs and shouts loudest in a show that demands to run and run outside of this seasonal run" Irish Times

"Best Musical 2003: PINOCCHIO ... definitely not a pantomime, nor kiddies’ entertainment, but a charming, slick musical adaptation ... a musical for all ages and all seasons" Sunday Life Drama Review

"The enchanting but cautionary tale of the wooden puppet who longs to be a real boy, has been brought triumphantly to life in Paul Boyd’s musical.  This sharp, stylish production crosses the generation gap, contriving to be at once cute and sophisticated, offering a gentle lesson for the little ones, arch humour for the adults and a feast of treats for the eye and the ear" The Stage

"Paul Boyd’s Pinocchio is, quite simply, the best thing he has done - and on the basis of past history that’s saying something.  He has taken the story of the little wooden puppet and crafted something that is, at once, a glitzy, swaggering musical, and a sweet tale of childhood innocence ... a punch as strong as any big West End show ... a deservedly massive hit ... there is definitely a case for taking this quality show-for-all-seasons on the road around Ireland - and beyond"

Sunday Life