Paul Arditti

Paul Arditti is a British sound designer, working mostly in the UK and the US. He specialises in sound for theatre musicals and plays. He has won awards for his work including two Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards, five Drama Desk Awards and a BroadwayWorld.com Fans' Choice Award.

In the UK, he has designed sound at the National Theatre, Donmar Warehouse, Bridge Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal Court Theatre, Almeida Theatre, Young Vic Theatre, and in the West End, as well as many regional theatres.

In September 2015, Paul was appointed an associate director at the National Theatre.

In the US, he has designed sound for many Broadway and off-Broadway productions, as well as in other New York venues such as St Ann's Warehouse, New York Theatre Workshop, Brooklyn Academy of Music, and Lincoln Center.

Paul studied Drama and English at The University of Hull, graduating in 1983.

London work (selected) Brace Brace (2024) directed by Daniel Raggett, Royal Court Theatre Upstairs, London Stranger Things: The First Shadow (2023) directed by Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin, Phoenix Theatre, London The Odyssey: Part 5 The Underworld (2023) directed by Emily Lim, National Theatre, London The Motive And The Cue (2023) directed by Sam Mendes, National Theatre, London and Noël Coward Theatre, London Guys and Dolls (2023) directed by Nicholas Hytner, Bridge Theatre, London The Crucible (2022) directed by Lyndsey Turner, sound co-designed with Tingying Dong, Olivier Theatre, London Jack Absolute Flies Again (2022) directed by Emily Burns, Olivier Theatre, London Our Generation (2022) directed by Daniel Evans, Minerva Theatre, Chichester, Dorfman Theatre, London La Belle Sauvage - The Book Of Dust (2021) directed by Nicholas Hytner, Bridge Theatre, London Caroline, Or Change (2018–2021) directed by Michael Longhurst, Minerva Theatre, Chichester, Hampstead Theatre, Playhouse Theatre, London Dick Whittington (2020) directed by Ned Bennett, Olivier Theatre, London The Visit (2020) directed by Jeremy Herrin Olivier Theatre, London A Very Expensive Poison (2019) directed by John Crowley, Old Vic, London Tree (2019) directed by Kwame Kwei-Armah, Young Vic, London, Manchester International Festival A Midsummer Night's Dream (2019), directed by Nicholas Hytner, Bridge Theatre, London Rutherford and Son (2019), directed by Polly Findlay, Lyttelton Theatre, London Shipwreck (2019) directed by Rupert Goold, Almeida Theatre, London The Inheritance (2018) directed by Stephen Daldry, Young Vic Theatre, Noël Coward Theatre, London, co-sound-designed with Christopher Reid Pericles (2018) a musical version by Chris Bush and Jim Fortune directed by Emily Lim, Olivier Theatre, London The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (2018), directed by Polly Findlay, Donmar Warehouse, London Absolute Hell (2018) directed by Joe Hill-Gibbins, National Theatre, London Macbeth (2018), directed by Rufus Norris, National Theatre, London Mary Stuart (2018), directed by Robert Icke, Almeida Theatre, Duke of York's Theatre, London Amadeus (2017 - 2018) featuring the Southbank Sinfonia, directed by Michael Longhurst, Olivier Theatre, London Beginning (2018) directed by Polly Findlay, Dorman Theatre, Ambassadors Theatre, London Julius Caesar (2018) directed by Nicholas Hytner, Bridge Theatre, London The Jungle (2017) directed by Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin, Young Vic Theatre, London Young Marx (2017) directed by Nicholas Hytner, Bridge Theatre, London Labour Of Love (2017) directed Jeremy Herrin, Noël Coward Theatre, London Hamlet (2017) directed by Kenneth Branagh, RADA, London Mosquitoes (2017) directed by Rufus Norris, National Theatre, London Betrayal (2017) directed by Lekan Lawal, Derby Theatre A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2017) directed by Joe Hill-Gibbins, Young Vic, London The Glass Menagerie (2017), directed by John Tiffany, Duke of York's Theatre, London Mary Stuart (2016) directed by Robert Icke, Almeida Theatre, London The Emperor (2016), directed by Walter Meierjohann, Maria Theatre, Young Vic, London & HOME, Manchester The Threepenny Opera (2016) directed by Rufus Norris, Olivier Theatre, London If You Kiss Me Kiss Me (2016) directed by Aletta Collins, Young Vic Theatre, London Red Velvet (2014–2016) directed by Indhu Rubasingham, Tricycle Theatre, London and St Ann's Warehouse, Brooklyn, New York, Garrick Theatre, London Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2016) directed by Dominic Cooke, Lyttelton Theatre, London Wonder.land (2015) - director: Rufus Norris, Royal National Theatre, London Everyman (2015) - director: Rufus Norris, Royal National Theatre, London Measure for Measure (2015) directed by Joe Hill-Gibbins, Young Vic Theatre, London Bakkhai (2015) directed by James MacDonald,music by Orlando Gough, Almeida Theatre, London Skylight (2014) - director: Stephen Daldry, West End, Broadway The Hard Problem (2015) - director: Nicholas Hytner, Royal National Theatre, London Behind the Beautiful Forevers (2014) - director: Rufus Norris, Royal National Theatre, London A Streetcar Named Desire (2014) - director: Benedict Andrews, Young Vic, West End, Broadway King Lear (2014) - director: Sam Mendes, Royal National Theatre, London King Charles III (2014) - director: Rupert Goold, Almeida Theatre, West End, London, Broadway The Scottsboro Boys (2014) - director: Susan Stroman, Young Vic, West End Little Revolution (2014) - director: Joe Hill-Gibbons, Almeida Theatre, London Great Britain (2014) - director: Nicholas Hytner, Royal National Theatre, London Charlie and The Chocolate Factory (2013) - director: Sam Mendes, Theatre Royal Drury Lane Theatre, London The Audience (2013) - director: Stephen Daldry, Gielgud Theatre, London, Broadway Dr Dee (2013) - director: Rufus Norris, Manchester International Festival and English National Opera The Most Incredible Thing by The Pet Shop Boys, director, Javier de Frutos, Sadler's Wells, London American Psycho (2013) directed by Rupert Goold, Almeida Theatre, London Edward II (2013) directed by Joe Hill-Gibbins, National Theatre, London Feast (2013) - director: Rufus Norris, a Royal Court Theatre and Young Vic co-production, London In The Republic of Happiness (2012) - director: Dominic Cooke, Royal Court Theatre, London The Magistrate (2012) - director: Tim Sheader, National Theatre, London Red Velvet (2012) by Lolita Chakabarti - director: Indhu Rubasingham, Tricycle Theatre, London Three Sisters (2012) - director: Benedict Andrews, Young Vic, London London Road (2012) by Alecky Blythe and Adam Cork - director: Rufus Norris, National Theatre In Basildon (2012) - director: Dominic Cooke, Royal Court Theatre, London The Changeling (2012) - director: Joe Hill-Gibbons, Young Vic London Collaborators (2012) - director: Nick Hytner, National Theatre, London Jumpy (2011) by April de Angelis - director: Nina Raine, Duke of York's Theatre and Royal Court Theatre, London One Man, Two Guvnors (2011) by Richard Bean - director: Nick Hytner, National Theatre and Broadway transfer The Veil (2011) written and directed by Conor McPherson, Lyttelton Theatre, London Blood and Gifts (2010) dir: Howard Davies, Lyttelton Theatre, London The Beauty Queen of Leenane (2010) dir: Joe Hill-Gibbins, Young Vic Theatre, London Love The Sinner (2010) dir: Matthew Dunster, Cottesloe Theatre, London A Ring, A Lamp, A Thing (2010) music: Orlando Gough, libretto: Caryl Churchill, dir: James MacDonald. Linbury Studio at The Royal Opera House, London] When The Rain Stops Falling (2009) director: Michael Attenborough, Almeida Theatre, London Under The Blue Sky (2008) director: Anna Mackmin, Duke of York's Theatre, London The Diver (2008) director: Hideki Noda, Soho Theatre, London The Revenger's Tragedy (2008) director: Melly Still, Royal National Theatre, London The Year of Magical Thinking (2008) director: David Hare, National Theatre, London and Booth Theatre, Broadway Never So Good (2008) director: Howard Davies, National Theatre, London Happy Now? (2008) director: Thea Sharrock, National Theatre, London Saint Joan (2008) director: Marianne Elliott, National Theatre, London The Member of the Wedding (2007) director: Matthew Dunster, Young Vic Theatre, London Vernon God Little (2007) director: Rufus Norris, Young Vic Theatre, London The Respectable Wedding (2007) director: Joe Hill-Gibbins, Young Vic Theatre, London Nakamitsu (2007) director: Jonathan Munby Gate Theatre, London The Pain and The Itch (2007) director: Dominic Cooke, Royal Court, London Hergé's Adventures Of Tintin (2005) director: Rufus Norris, Young Vic production, Barbican Theatre and Playhouse Theatre, London Cymbeline (2003) director: Dominic Cooke, Royal Shakespeare Company

Broadway work (selected) Stranger Things: The First Shadow (2025) directed by Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin, Marquis Theatre, Broadway Caroline, Or Change (2021) director: Michael Longhurst, Studio 54, New York The Inheritance (2019) director: Stephen Daldry, Ethel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway, New York (co-sound-designed with Christopher Reid) Skylight (2015) director: Stephen Daldry, Golden Theater, Broadway The Audience (2015) director: Stephen Daldry, Shoenfeld Theater, Broadway Mary Stuart (2009) - director: Phyllida Lloyd, Broadhurst Theatre Billy Elliot The Musical - director: Stephen Daldry, all productions, including Imperial Theatre (2008); Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne; Capitol Theatre, Sydney; Circustheater, Scheveningen, Netherlands and Victoria Palace Theatre, London. Les Liaisons Dangereuses (2008) director: Rufus Norris, American Airlines Theatre

Other Local Hero (2022) director: Daniel Evans with music by Mark Knopfler, Minerva Theatre, Chichester Children of Nora (2020) director and writer: Robert Icke, Internationaal Theater Amsterdam This Is My Family (2019) director: Daniel Evans, Minerva Theatre, Chichester Festival Local Hero (2019) director: John Crowley, with music by Mark Knopfler, Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh The Jungle (2018–19), director: Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin, St Ann's Warehouse, New York, Curran Theatre, San Francisco Caroline, Or Change (2017) director: by Michael Longhurst, Chichester Festival Theatre A Streetcar Named Desire (2016) director: Benedict Andrews, St Ann's Warehouse, Brooklyn, New York The Bee (2012) director: Hideki Noda, Japan Society, New York and world tour Company (2011) by Stephen Sondheim director: Jonathan Munby, Sheffield Crucible The Cherry Orchard and The Winter's Tale (2009) director: Sam Mendes, Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York, and Old Vic Theatre, London Crestfall by Mark O'Rowe (2003) director: Garry Hynes, Gate Theatre, Dublin (2003)

Awards and nominations Guys And Dolls: WhatsOnStage Nomination for Best Sound Design 2024 Stranger Things: The First Shadow: Tony Award for Best Sound Design of a Play 2025, WhatsOnStage nomination for Best Sound Design 2024, Olivier Award nomination for Best Sound Design 2024, Drama Desk Award winner for Outstanding Sound Design of a Play. The Inheritance: Drama Desk Award 2019, Oliver Award nomination 2019, Tony Award nomination 2019 Amadeus: Oliver Award nomination for Best Sound Design 2017 One Man, Two Guvnors: Tony Award nomination for Best Sound Design 2012 Saint Joan: Olivier Award for Best Sound Design 2008 Billy Elliot The Musical: Tony Award for Best Sound Design 2009, Olivier Award for Best Sound Design 2006, Helpmann Award (Australia) nomination for Best Sound Design 2008, Drama Desk Award for Best Sound Design, Broadwayworld.com Fan's Choice Award for Best Sound Design Festen: Evening Standard Award for Best Design 2004 and Olivier Award nomination for Best Sound Design 2005 The Pillowman: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Sound Design 2005, Olivier Award nomination for Best Sound Design 2004 Crestfall: Irish Times Theatre Awards nomination Judges' Special Award 2004 Far Away: Lucille Lortel Award nomination 2004 The Chairs: Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Sound Design 2003 Four Baboons Adoring The Sun: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Sound Design 1993