Paul Courtenay Hyu

Paul Courtenay Hyu is a British–Chinese actor, writer and director.[1] He works in English and German. He is sometimes credited as Paul Hyu, especially for his work as Elvis Impersonator, "ChineseElvis".

Paul Courtenay Hyu
Born
London, England
NationalityBritish
OccupationActor
Notable work"ChineseElvis"

Life and career

Hyu was born in London. He was educated at Ashville College in Harrogate, where he was Head of Briggs House and won the school's drama prize. He also won the school's German prize, though he did not continue to study the subject, instead taking Maths, Physics and Chemistry and General Studies at A-level.

He gained a place at the London Theatre School, where he studied under Barbara Buckmaster, Belinda Quirey MBE, Norman Ayrton and Charles Duff, winning Mike Loades' prize fight competition with Christopher Chaplin, son of Charlie Chaplin.

He took over as Artistic Director of the multi award-winning Mu-Lan Theatre Company[2] from Glen Goei in 1997. Before the company closed due to a withdrawal of funding from the London Arts Board in 2005, he implemented the UK's first East Asian Youth Theatre and East Asian New Writing Programmes, working with the Shared Experience, Paines Plough and Royal Court Theatre theatre companies. He also created and wrote for the UK's first East Asian sketch comedy troupe, "Mu-Lan's Frying Circus", and he produced and directed the 1st British Chinese repertory theatre production of Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet at Basingstoke Haymarket and Jersey Opera House, set in Shanghai in the 1930s.[3] Under his leadership, Mu-Lan was nominated for the Manchester Evening News Awards (winner), Diverse Acts Award (winner), Carlton Multi-Cultural Achievement Award and the Peter Brook Empty Space Award. Hyu himself was nominated for a Chinese Community Pearl Award in 2006 for Excellence in Media.

Under the banner of Mu-Lan, Hyu wrote and starred in the controversial[4] 4-part C4 satirical TV sketch show, The Missing Chink.[5][6] He was Associate Producer of the UK's first British Chinese sketch comedy TV show pilot, Sweet n Sour Comedy, produced by Baby Cow Productions.[7][8][9]

In 1999, as an actor, Hyu created the part of Timothy Wong, The Chinese Elvis in Charlotte Jones' award-winning play Martha, Josie and the Chinese Elvis at the Octagon Theatre Bolton.[10] He went on the play the part again in 2001 with Belinda Lang in the role of Martha and again lastly in 2007 with Maureen Lipman. Hyu's performance in this part in 1999 was so popular that he received multiple offers of work as an Elvis impersonator.[11] Living close to the famous Gracelands Palace Chinese Elvis restaurant on the Old Kent Road in South East London,[12] Hyu started working there as "ChineseElvis",[13] an Elvis Tribute character act,[14] who gained some fame in the UK most notably for fronting a national advertising campaign for AOL[15] and winning an International Elvis charity special edition of The Weakest Link, raising £5750 for the NSPCC.[16] In 2005, Hyu went back to Harrogate to perform as ChineseElvis as part of a gala night of fundraising for the Royal Hall.[17] Hyu stars in one of the videos made by Junkie XL for his 2002 worldwide hit remix of A Little Less Conversation.[18] Hyu has appeared at many London venues as ChineseElvis, including the Hippodrome, London, Oxo Tower, Annabel's, The Ivy as well as The Jolly Roger party boat in Barbados. People who have hired him for private functions include Sir Bob Geldof, Angelina Jolie, Richard Caring and Justin Lin.

Publicity photograph of Paul Hyu as ChineseElvis, 2004

Films

YearWorkRoleNotes
TBAMeet the LeesTony ChungAlso known as Fortune Cookies; Screen Northants
2018Jim Knopf und Lukas der LokomotivführerWise Man IVWarner Bros
2017A Christmas PrinceDeputy Press SecretaryNetflix
2014The Lovers and the DespotShin Sang-OkHellflower
2001The Lost BattalionPrivate Stanley ChinnA&E
1999Wing CommanderRichardson20th Century Fox
1999Everybody Loves SunshineIanGothic Films
1998The First 9 1/2 WeeksHarry LongLions Gate
1995Detonator 2: The NightwatchCIA TechnicianBritish Lion Film

Television

YearWorkRoleNotes
2022DoctorsIain McDonagh1 episode[19]
2021Shakespeare & Hathaway Season 4 ep 9 [20]Ben YangBBC production
2019Blue MoonMartinDaybreak Pictures (C4) production
2018Absentia Season 1Erick ShenSony TV Networks production for Amazon Prime
2017SOKO München[21]Ngo Minh HaiUFA Fiction production for ZDF
2016Vera Season 6 ep1HuangITV production
Doctor Who Episode: "Sleep No More"Deep-AndoBBC production
2014Happy ValleyMickey YipBBC production
2011Not Going OutKaraoke HostBBC production
2009Coronation StreetDr. MartinITV production
2008Rather You Than Me[22]Dr. LingBBC production
2008EastEndersDr. ThearaBBC production
2006Bad CrowdWayneTiger Aspect production
2005FunlandBryanBBC production
2004The Marchioness Disaster (tv film)Jonathan PhangITV production
2003The BillJake CousinsITV production
2002CasualtyDr. Tom BardleyBBC production
2001Dr. Terrible's House of HorribleInspector Fong of Scotland YardBBC production
1995Echt HarderDavid LiObjectiv Film GmbH production for RTL
1993One Foot in the GraveYouth in TakeawayBBC production
1992The Blackheath PoisoningsOriental GentlemanITV productions

Video games

YearWorkRoleNotes
2019Total War: Three KingdomsYuan ShaoSEGA
2018Ni no Kuni II: Revenant KingdomWorld Filler CharactersEnglish version
2012007 LegendsGoldfinger Soldier / BreederAlso Additional voices
2011Driver: San FranciscoAdditional Voices
2010James Bond 007: Blood StoneAdditional Voices
2010Just Cause 2Government Pilot (lead role)
2004Vietcong: Purple HazeVietnamese Point Man (reprised role)
2004Vietcong: Fist AlphaVietnamese Point Man (reprised role)
2003Warhammer 40,000: Fire WarriorTau Trooper
2002VietcongVietnamese Point Man (starring role)
2001Dropship: United Peace ForceDropship Pilot (lead role)
2000Hitman (franchise)Chinatown Voices (every voice)

Theatre

YearProductionRoleLocation
2019This is What Happens To Pretty Girls[23]Charles Lee PurvisPangdemonium, Singapore
2018OthellomacbethBrabantio / DuncanLyric Theatre Hammersmith
2009Breakfast at Tiffany'sParty GuestTheatre Royal, Haymarket
2007Martha, Josie and the Chinese Elvis[24]Timothy WongBirmingham Repertory Theatre, No 1 Tour
2003US and ThemMaynard, Timothy, WaiterHampstead Theatre
2001Martha, Josie and the Chinese Elvis[25]Timothy WongWatford Palace
1999Martha, Josie and the Chinese Elvis[26]Timothy WongOctagon Theatre Bolton, Liverpool Everyman
1998Take AwayStephenLyric Theatre (Hammersmith) London
1997The Fantasticks[27]MuteSingapore Repertory Theatre, Singapore
1996New TerritoriesWhite, PigYellow Earth Theatre, London
1995The Wind in the WillowsRabbit, ParkinsonRNT Old Vic
1993The Magic Fundoshi[28]Maid, Taro, priestSingapore Repertory Theatre, Singapore
1993Three Japanese WomenHojiMu-Lan Theatre Company at Soho Theatre
1992–94Miss SaigonPhanTheatre Royal, Drury Lane
1992The Merchant of VeniceLorenzo / Prince of MoroccoSherman Theatre
1991Hiawatha[29]HiawathaRoyal Lyceum Theatre
1990–91Titus AndronicusAaronCCQ, Dusseldorf
1990M. ButterflyComrade ChinDeutsches Schauspielhaus

Radio Drama

YearWorkRoleNotes
2021The Fourth Doctor Adventures; Daughter of DestructionGenghis Khan/GuardBig Finish Productions
2020Doctor Who: The Early Adventures[30]OddiyanaBig Finish Productions
2019Doctor Who: Wicked SistersWei/Mark/WadeBig Finish Productions
2018Enigma of China; Inspector Chen Novels[31]Detective WeiBBC radio 4
2018Jenny The Doctor's Daughter: Neon Reign[32]PoBig Finish Productions
2017Lights, Camera, Kidnap![33]Shin Sang-OkBBC radio 4
2016Tracks[34]Man SeokBBC radio 4
2015Dostoevsky & The Chickens[35]ChiefBBC radio 3
2012Stargate SG-1: An Eye For an Eye[36]Lieutenant Col. YinBig Finish Productions
2010The Patience of Mr Job[37]Mr LucyBBC radio 4
2010The Secret Pilgrim[38]Henry, ThugBBC radio 4
2010The Honorable Schoolboy[39]Charlie Marshall[40]BBC radio 4
2009Rendezvous with Rama[41]Li KwokBBC radio 4
2009The Gold Farmer[42]ChaoBBC radio 4
2008The Letter[43]Ong Chi SenBBC radio 4
2007The Lover[44]The LoverBBC radio 4
2005The Story of the StoneBao-YuBBC World Service
1991Herge – The Adventures of Tin Tin; Tin Tin in TibetChangBBC radio 4

References

  1. "Paul Hyu". Visible Chinese. 11 December 2007. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  2. "Mu-Lan Theatre Company". Facebook. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  3. "Mu-Lan Theatre Company". British Black and Asian Shakespeare Performance Database. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  4. Plunkett, John (21 January 2004). "Channel 4 under fire over 'racist' show". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  5. Banks-Smith, Nancy (20 January 2004). "The Great Nazi Cash Swindle – Missing Chink". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  6. "The Missing Chink". ChineseElvis. 14 December 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  7. "Sweet 'n' Sour Comedy (2004)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 30 September 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  8. List of shows produced by Baby Cow Productions, including 2004 Sweet and Sour
  9. "Is this the year of the Dragon?". The Independent. 23 March 2004. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  10. "Samuel French page for Martha, Josie and the Chinese Elvis". Samuel French.co.uk. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  11. "Martha, Josie and the Chinese Elvis: Paul Hyu interview". HEY Today. 8 February 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  12. Rohrer, Finlo (15 August 2002). "Rise of the Chinese Elvis". BBC News. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  13. "ChineseElvis – the online home to the UK's most popular award-winning Chinese Elvis Impersonator!". ChineseElvis. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  14. FitzGerald, James (14 August 2017). "These Londoners Make A Living From Playing Elvis Presley". Londonist. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  15. chineseelvis888 (18 April 2011). "ChineseElvis sings and stars in AOL advert, UK 2004–2006". Retrieved 26 December 2017 via YouTube.
  16. chineseelvis888 (26 June 2014). "Weakest Link Elvis Special UK Full Episode". Retrieved 26 December 2017 via YouTube.
  17. "Night of delights for Royal Hall appeal". Harrogate Advertiser. 28 June 2005. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  18. chineseelvis888 (14 August 2010). "Junkie XL vs ChineseElvis". Retrieved 26 December 2017 via YouTube.
  19. Timblick, Simon. "Doctors spoilers: Valerie Pitman BREAKS THE RULES!". What to Watch. (Future plc). Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  20. "BBC iPlayer's page for Season 4 episode 9 "Time Decays"".
  21. "ZDF's SOKO München page for the episode "Wutbürger"". ZDF.de. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  22. "Frankie Howerd: Rather You Than Me". BBC Four. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  23. "This is What Happens to Pretty Girls – Pangdemonium".
  24. Orme, Steve (2007). "Theatre review: Martha, Josie and the Chinese Elvis at Birmingham Rep". British Theatre Guide. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  25. Cavendish, Dominic (14 February 2001). "Cross-dressing, wicked impersonations and bitter truths". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  26. Wainwright, Jeffrey (20 April 1999). "Arts: Theatre: Reality whipped into a delightful froth". The Independent. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  27. "Cast List of Singapore Rep's 1977 production of The Fantasticks". Singapore Repertory Theatre. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  28. "Singapore Rep's page for The Magic Fundoshi with cast". Singapore Repertory Theatre. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  29. "Scottish Theatre Archive – Event Details". Special Collections Department, University of Glasgow Library. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  30. "The Secrets of Det-Sen, Doctor Who the Early Adventures". Big Finish.
  31. "BBC Radio 4, Drama, Inspector Chen Novels, Enigma of China". BBC Radio 4.
  32. "Jenny – The Doctor's Daughter – News – out now – Big Finish".
  33. "Episode 1, Lights, Camera, Kidnap!, Drama". BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  34. "Series 1, Tracks". BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  35. "Dostoevsky and the Chickens, The Wire". BBC Radio 3. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  36. "3.1. Stargate SG-1 Series 03 Part 1". Big Finish.com. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  37. "Justin Butcher – The Patience of Mr Job, Afternoon Drama". BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  38. "The Secret Pilgrim – Episode guide". BBC Radio 4 Extra. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  39. "The Honourable Schoolboy – Episode guide". BBC Radio 4 Extra. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  40. "The Complete Smiley". Radio Times.
  41. "Rendezvous with Rama, Classic Serial". BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  42. "The Gold Farmer, The Wire". BBC Radio 3. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  43. "The Letter, Mr Maugham's Journey Home". BBC Radio 4 Extra. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  44. "The Lover, 15 Minute Drama – Episode guide". BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
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