Paul Kerensa: Parents ‘take sleep when you can and be kind. Not every day will be easy – but that’s OK’

Welcome Paul, thanks for agreeing to share your experiences with us, can we start with you telling us a bit about yourself?

Sure! I’m Paul Kerensa – that’s actually a stage name because my real name was the same as a pop star, so this identity gives me a bit of distance when performing. Off stage, I’m a husband and a father. I grew up in Cornwall until I was five, then moved to Surrey when my dad’s work took us there. I studied theology at university, then went to drama school – realised I couldn’t act, took up writing instead, and have been writing and performing comedy for the past 20 years.

Did you grow up in a Christian family?

Not really. My parents weren’t churchgoers, but village life in Surrey was very church-centric – youth groups, choir, Scouts – all ran out of the church. So I started attending, maybe initially as free childcare, but stuck around because I realised there was something good in the stories, the life, and the theology. My faith built gradually between the ages of 11 and 17, especially through summer camps. I eventually had that tipping point moment at around 15 or 16 and decided, yes, this is true and I’m all in.

And you studied theology at university?

Yes, at Nottingham. It was quite academic and not vocational – my New Testament lecturer even told us Christians wouldn’t leave the course with our faith intact! But I survived it. Along the way I discovered theatre and probably spent more time in drama rehearsals than lectures. Now, my work bridges those worlds – I preach occasionally, write for BBC, and perform comedy for churches and on the stand-up circuit.