Peter Polycarpou’s career has spanned over four decades. His work has included both Film and Television. He has made numerous Radio Dramas for the BBC. He has acted in many West End plays and regional theatres up and down the country. He has also been in some of the biggest Musical Theatre shows of the last 30 years. He is now in great demand as a voice actor and is playing leading characters in online video games including, Assassins Creed Origins, Diablo IV, Harry Potter, Immortals Fenyx Rising and many more.
He is an original cast member of Les Miserables and Miss Saigon. An Olivier Award nominee for best-supporting actor in a play, and a winner of The Clarence Derwent Award.
Peter recently recorded an episode of Midsomer Murders. He starred recently in The Bands Visit at the Donmar.
Indecent at The Menier Theatre in 2021 was a huge success.
He also returned to The Harold Pinter Theatre in Jamie Lloyd’s season of Pinter at The Pinter, where he had previously starred in Oslo when the NT production of this Tony Award-winning play transferred there, during 2017/18. Peter received an Olivier nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Play for his portrayal of the role of Ahmed Qurie in Oslo and the play by JT Rogers, was also nominated in the Best New Play category.
PP appeared at The Coliseum in London’s West End in 2019. He played Sancho Panza in a major new revival of Man Of La Mancha opposite Kelsey Grammar, Danielle De Neisse and Nicholas Lyndhurst.
He has also recorded numerous television appearances in Defending The Guilty, Unforgotten and in the new series of Sky Atlantic’s Riviera.
Many online gamers will also know him for his voice portrayal of Herodotus in the very popular Assassins Creed, Odyssey.
He appeared at The Southwark Playhouse in a musical called Working on 8th July 2017. Working was nominated in the Whatsonstage.com awards for Best Off-West End Production. He was nominated for an Offie Award and Whatsonstage Award in 2018.
In 2017 Peter played the role of Vivian Van Damm in Mrs. Henderson Presents at The Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto opposite Tracie Bennett. He also made a visit to Dubai and played Monsieur Thenárdier in Les Misérables opposite Jodie Prenger as Madame Thenárdier.
Peter’s appearances on stage, in film and television and on radio, have extended over a 45-year period as a professional actor. He is a leading artist in musical theatre, having appeared in some of the most enduring West End Musicals this country has ever seen.
He played COLONEL MAHMOOD in Season Three of TYRANT for FOX TV.
In 2014 he played Louis Charalambous in THE LOST HONOUR OF CHRISTOPHER JEFFRIES for ITV. It was directed by Roger Michel and starred Jason Watkins. The production won 2 BAFTA TV AWARDS.
He played Chris Theodopoulopoudos for five seasons, in BIRDS OF A FEATHER (BBCTV/SELECT TV) which is now playing on ITV in a revival of this enduring sitcom.
He has made guest star appearances in HOLBY CITY and CASUALTY. He played opposite Michelle Collins as Yiannis in SUNBURN (BBCTV). Tony in AMERICAN VOICES (BBCTV). ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE (Channel 5 – he also directed five episodes) and MILE HIGH (SKYTV) CAPITOL CITY, RICH TEA AND SYMPATHY, HAMMER HOUSE OF HORRORS, THE PROFESSIONALS (ITV), JUPITER MOON for BSB and FIVE’S COMPANY. Noah in NOAH, THE DELUGE AND THE ARK for BBCTV/DISCOVERY screening March 2004. THE BILL and PLANESPOTTING (ITV) guest-star appearances in 2004 and 2005. EASTENDERS, WAKING THE DEAD and HOLBY CITY for BBCTV. Peter played DCI Petrides in a TV Drama called EMPATHY for BBCTV. HOLBY CITY as David Westleigh BBCTV 2008 and more recently in EASTENDERS, THE LAST DAYS OF LEHMANN BROTHERS, THE HUSTLE SERIES 8 for BBC1. He played the role of Mo in Comedy Centrals sitcom THREESOME.
In 2013 he played a leading role in a British film shot entirely on location in London, called CLEANSKIN. It starred Sean Bean and Oscar nominee Charlotte Rampling. He played the Islamic cleric Nabil to critical acclaim.
He was Domingo Mercante in EVITA directed by Alan Parker which starred Madonna. Ali Hakim in OKLAHOMA! directed by Trevor Nunn (BAFTA Winner for RSC) both at The National Theatre and at the Lyceum Theatre. Louis B Mayer in DE-LOVELY directed by Irwin Winkler starring Kevin Kline, Jonathan Pryce and Ashley Judd (2004). BLOODLINES; LEGACY OF A LORD, MIDNIGHT FLIGHT, JULIE, AND THE CADILLACS, LAST DAYS OF POMPEII. O JERUSALEM directed by ELIE CHOURAKI. I COULD NEVER BE YOUR WOMAN directed by Amy Heckerling and starring Michelle Pfeiffer.
Peter also co-directed, produced, and wrote a short film called MAD GEORGE in 2004. It’s currently showing at eight International Film Festivals. Peter finished BROKEN, a short film, directed by young filmmaker Vicki Psarias in 2013.
In 2015 he starred as Fagin in Oliver! At The Curve in Leicester directed by Paul Kerrison.
Earlier in the same year the premiere of a new musical The Choir at The Glasgow Citizens Theatre directed by Dominic Hill.
In 2013/14 he played Buddy Fidler in Josie Rourke’s double Olivier Award-winning production of City Of Angels at The Donmar Warehouse. Vernon Hines in The Pajama Game. Chichester Festival’s 50th Anniversary Season 2013. It is directed by Sir Richard Eyre and transferred to The Duchess Theatre where it ran for 6 months.
Inspector Messiter in The Magistrate at The Royal National Theatre, starring John Lithgow and Nancy Carroll 2012.
Peter played Beadle Bamford in Jonathan Kent’s triple Olivier-winning production of Steven Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd at The Adelphi Theatre until November 2012. It originated at Chichester’s Festival Theatre in 2011 and stars Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton. He played Phil Cavilleri in the CFT production of LOVE STORY at the Duchess Theatre when it also transferred to the West End in December 2010. Directed by Rachel Kavanaugh, it was adapted by Howard Goodall (music) and Steven Clark (Book and Lyrics) from the novel by Erich Segal. In 2009/10 he starred as Scrooge in Bryony Lavery’s adaptation of A CHRISTMAS CAROL directed by Nikolai Foster with music by Jason Carr.
In 2007/8 he created the leading role of DANIEL WASHOVSKY in IMAGINE THIS at the NEW LONDON THEATRE after its transfer from Plymouth.
He made his professional debut in 1979. Some of his credits include. GREASE, GODSPELL, TOAD OF TOAD HALL, THE FRONT PAGE, SNOOPY, YOU’RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, ANTHONY AND CLEOPATRA, THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, COMIC CUTS, THE WOODS, HIAWATHA. Emile de Beque – SOUTH PACIFIC, Heathcliff – WUTHERING HEIGHTS, Bernie – SEXUAL PERVERSITY IN CHICAGO. Vernon in THEY’RE PLAYING OUR SONG and Bill Cracker in THE HAPPY END at The Bridewell Theatre. An original member of the LES MISÉRABLES company in 1985 playing Jean Prouvaire. At the RSC gaining critical acclaim for his Aaron the Moor in Deborah Warner’s TITUS ANDRONICUS. Other RSC work includes THE JEW OF MALTA as Calymath, A QUESTION OF GEOGRAPHY as Micha and THE NEW INN by Ben Johnson.
Peter created the role of John in MISS SAIGON at The Theatre Royal Drury Lane in 1989. He played The Phantom in PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at Her Majesties Theatre in 1991.
Critics praised his performances at the Greenwich Theatre as Skip in THE HEIDI CHRONICLES by Wendy Wasserstein, at The Kings Head Theatre as David O’Selznick in FRANKLY SCARLETT and as Ira Stone in the National Tour of LAUGHTER ON THE 23RD FLOOR. Roy Cohn in ANGELS IN AMERICA. METROPOLIS KABARETT at The RNT Café, Dr. Neville Craven in the SECRET GARDEN both at the RSC and The ALDWYCH THEATRE. Ali Hakim in the critically acclaimed and BAFTA award-winning production of OKLAHOMA directed by Trevor Nunn at The RNT and The Lyceum in 2000, starring alongside Hugh Jackman, Maureen Lipman and Josefina Gabriel. London’s theatre critics praised his performance as ARTURO UI in The Resistible Rise Of Arturo Ui at The Bridewell Theatre directed by Phil Wilmott and in Manchester as Oscar Madison in THE ODD COUPLE at the Library Theatre Manchester he was also nominated for a Manchester Evening News best actor award. The Childcatcher in CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG at THE LONDON PALLADIUM (2003) Peter starred in two plays at The Hampstead Theatre in 2005. Alistair Beaton’s FOLLOW MY LEADER and Cheche in ANNA IN THE TROPICS by Nilo Cruz. John Kolvenbach’s GIZMO LOVE at The Edinburgh Festival. Haydar in SILVER BIRCH HOUSE – at the Arcola Theatre. Daniel Washovsky in IMAGINE THIS in Plymouth followed. Gash in LAST EASTER – a Bryony Lavery play, which played to packed houses at The Door Theatre at the Birmingham Rep. Ibrahim in ARTEFACTS by Mike Bartlett at The Bush Theatre, UK Tour and OFF-BROADWAY at the E59th STREET THEATRE as part of the Brits Off Broadway Festival.
Radio Drama.
MELAS in THE GREEK INTERPRETER, PART OF THE SHERLOCK HOLMES SERIES, MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS, MACRUNE’S GUEVARA. His own Radio 2 special called IT’S ALL GREEK TO ME and his own youth-based magazine show called YOUNG GIFTED AND GREEK for London Greek Radio. HONEY FROM A WEED with Anna Massey Radio 4 (2003) THE BROX a POLYMAD LTD production for LGR (2004) THE GOOD SHIP ESPERANZA with Stephanie Cole Radio 4 (2005).THE LAST ADVENTURE by John Mortimer and directed by his son Jeremy. THE INVASION: ARAB CHRONICLES OF THE FIRST CRUSADE. BEIRUT DAYS all for BBC Radio Drama in 2009. In 2011 he joined the BBC Radio Rep and has appeared in many of their dramas, sketch shows and documentaries.
Since 2006, Peter has taught in Youth theatres and schools all over the UK. He has given masterclasses at The London School Of Musical Theatre, Mountview Academy of Arts, and many musical theatre training colleges. He has directed Youth Theatre in several venues including two productions of the LES MISÉRABLES SCHOOLS EDITION and RENT.
Peter has developed a one-day LES MISÉRABLES SCHOOLS EDITION workshop which is popular amongst groups staging the show. He has also just developed a similar one-day workshop for MISS SAIGON SCHOOL EDITION. He has his own youth theatre group called THROUGH THE STAGE DOOR, which he established in 2009. His experience is sought by musical theatre academies, youth theatres, schools and colleges up and down the country. He also regularly sits on audition panels at training academies and colleges.
Peter is also a director of The Royal Theatrical Fund and a patron of the United Kingdom Thalassaemia Society.
Peter Polycarpou 
A few days ago I saw your performance of Bui Doi on a Youtube video from Wogan. It is great. Starting with Hinton Battle in New York, this song has been a platform for singers to show off, strut about and do some vocal gymnastics, i.e. it is all about them. Not so with your performance. You took the role and the words seriously and portrayed John’s guilt on behalf of himself and his country. It’s moving.
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Thanks, Paul. It’s always been very important to me that the truth of the song and its message is felt by the audience, rather than the vocal prowess of the performer. But hey, everyone is different and some performers do this song in a very different way.
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Hi Peter, I just started Season 7 of Birds of a Feather and was sad to see that yourself and Alun Lewis did not return. You both played your respective roles very well but I suppose you became busy with other projects when the show returned. Nonetheless, I’m glad to see that you are still active in the profession!
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Thank you for your comments. I’m still enjoying an active career. I hope you continue to enjoy BOAF.
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