Book Club: Paul Stafford in conversation with Marie Louise Muir

Paul Stafford started cutting hair in a kitchen.  If the pandemic had continued he’d have been forced to consider going back there. Instead the Belfast based stylist went about creating a series of “virtual chair “ interviews with some of his clients. Conducted via Instagram, the series featured artists, actors, musicians and fellow hairdressing and makeup heroes. The stories they told read like books, playing into the backbone of Stafford’s narrative that a haircut is only a part of the Salon experience. 

Paul’s work has always been heavily influenced by the stories of his (and many others) youth: observing the shifting sands of style via a change in modern culture, politics and the arts. The constant search for authenticity and uniqueness is at the very centre of Paul and Leisa Stafford’s creative output. Their Belfast roots and upbringing that defines the couples’ world-renowned reputation as educators, innovators and storytellers, and they are Paul is constantly moving forward using multimedia to expand the profile of Northern Irelands’s hair industry through film, photography, stage performance and writing, entering into his 40th year in the industry, the best yet to come …..

Often regarded as Northern Ireland’s most recognised hairdresser, join innovator and educator Paul in discussion on stories, books and influences, with award-winning radio and TV arts broadcaster Marie-Louise Muir. Sit back and relax! 

Marie-Louise Muir is an award-winning radio and TV arts broadcaster and producer. She writes, presents and produces high-end arts and culture radio for BBC Northern Ireland including BBC Radio Ulster's weekly The Culture Cafe. She recently produced a landmark television documentary for BBC and RTE on the playwright Brian Friel which is currently on BBC iPlayer. 

Most recently she presented BBC 4's Inside Museums - Ulster's Folk Wonders" which is also on the BBC Iplayer. The poet Arguably Northern Ireland’s most recognised hairdresser, during lockdown Paul Stafford created a series of ‘virtual chair’ interviews with some of his clients - a series featuring artists, actors, musicians and fellow hairdressing and make-up heroes. The stories they told read like books; playing into the backbone of Paul’s narrative that a haircut is only a part of the Salon experience. Join innovator and educator Paul in discussion on stories, books and influences, with award-winning radio and TV arts broadcaster Marie-Louise Muir. Michael Longley has said of Marie-Louise that she is a “crucial figure on the cultural scene”.