A producer given his big chance by Greenwich Theatre is passing on the same passion and loyalty to promising young actors and directors trying to make a career on the stage.

Twenty-seven-year-old Paul Taylor-Mills already has eight Greenwich Theatre productions to his credit and will produce a mini Peter Nichols season next month with A Day in the Death of Joe Egg and Privates on Parade.

The plays will premiere in Greenwich prior to joining a summer season of 12 shows Paul is producing in Sidmouth, Devon. “We wanted to dedicate the season to a writer and decided on Peter Nichols,” said Paul. “He’s one of those writers whose stories feel timeless. You read them and can hardly believe they were written 40 years ago, Joe Egg especially, which seems so fresh.”

Paul, who lives in Clapham, made his debut three years ago when he produced Rent at Greenwich. “I’m very aware and grateful that without Greenwich Theatre I wouldn’t be where I am now,” he said. “I’ve probably been back about eight times because Greenwich puts its money where its mouth is in supporting new artists.

James, Greenwich Theatre’s executive and artistic director, said: “Each summer Paul produces the summer season in Sidmouth and he uses our technical department to get a number of the shows up and running and our audience as a test for the work.

Joe Egg is one of my favourite plays so I’ve been lobbying Paul to do that, and Privates on Parade is quite special to Greenwich because it was famously done here in the 80s with Tony Slattery.

“The first show Paul produced with us was Rent, which did such amazing business so we knew straight away that he was someone special.”

*A Day in the Death of Joe Egg. Friday, June 6, to Monday, June 9. Privates on Parade, Thursday, June 12, to Saturday, June 14.