I’m an award-winning theatre director working on plays and musicals.
Most recently, I directed the world premiere of Foam by Harry McDonald, at the Finborough Theatre.
My production of Sophie Swithinbank’s Bacon premiered in 2022 to critical acclaim and won three Off-West End Awards, including Best Director. The production has since played seasons at Riverside Studios, Summerhall for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Bristol Old Vic. Bacon has recently completed a run Off-Broadway at SoHo Playhouse, NYC.
Other upcoming projects include Nell Gwynn by Jessica Swale for Arts Education Schools and a new play by Louis Emmitt-Stern for Oxford School of Drama.
Photo credit Ali Wright
About Me
Theatre as director includes: Nell Gwynn (Arts Ed); Foam (Finborough Theatre); Breeding (King’s Head Theatre); Bacon (Finborough Theatre, Riverside Studios, Summerhall Edinburgh and Bristol Old Vic); Four Play (Above The Stag); The Niceties (Finborough Theatre); Maggie May (Finborough Theatre) and The Burnt Part Boys (Park Theatre).
As assistant director: Assassins (Chichester Festival Theatre, Dir. Polly Findlay); BLACK SUPERHERO (Jerwood Theatre Downstairs, Royal Court, Dir. Daniel Evans), Brass (National Youth Music Theatre/Hackney Empire, Dir. Hannah Chissick), Musik (Leicester Square Theatre, Dir. Josh Seymour).
Awards include: Best Director of a Play at the Off West End Awards for Bacon at the Finborough.
Training/Education:
National Theatre Directors Course
Theatre & Performance Studies BA (Hons), First Class, University of Bristol
StoneCrabs Young Directors Programme
FOAM
By Harry McDonald
Presented by Croft & Dye and Salt Lick Productions, in association with Neil McPherson for the Finborough Theatre
Foam confronts the flashpoint where the terrifyingly personal and the violently political collide.
‘Matthew Iliffe has impacted the truth, beauty, and honesty of what should be an unpalatable narrative’
★★★★★ The New Current
‘Moving, provocative, and memorable’
★★★★★ London Pub Theatres
‘Matthew Iliffe directs with scalpel-like precision’
★★★★★ AJ Loves Theatre
‘The best new play I have come across for a long time. A must-see play for all who enjoy well-written, well-acted and well-directed drama’
★★★★★ LondonTheatre1
‘A tense, unpredictable gem’
★★★★★ QueerGuru
‘Frank, unflinching and provocative… comes vividly to life onstage in the capable hands of director Matthew Iliffe’
★★★★★ West End Best Friend
‘A timely and important play… serious tension, charged with eroticism and threat’
★★★★ The Stage
‘Utterly compelling’
★★★★ The Arts Desk
‘Moving, powerful and intense’
★★★★ Everything Theatre
‘Intense, cerebral and provocative… transfixing under Iliffe’s direction’
★★★★ Spy In The Stalls
Designer - Nitin Parmar
Costume Designer - Pam Tait
Lighting Designer - Jonathan Chan
Sound Designer - David Segun Olowu
Assistant Director - Tania Khan
Played at the Finborough Theatre 19th March - 13 April 2024
Photo credit: Craig Fuller
‘Builds up some serious tension, charged with eroticism and threat’
The Stage on Foam
BREEDING
By Barry McStay
Presented by Gabriella Sills Productions in association with Mark Gatiss
Breeding is a funny, moving drama about parenthood, queer families & enduring love.
‘A production that oozes accomplishment in every department… a tremendously enjoyable and moving tragi-comedy’
★★★★★ BroadwayBaby
‘Definitely a play you should go and check out for yourself’
★★★★★ Jack The Lad Magazine
‘Director Matthew Iliffe elicits sterling performances’
★★★★ ReviewsHub
‘Beautiful, honest and raw storytelling done terrifically well’
★★★★ TheatreWeekly
‘Matthew Iliffe’s succinct yet fruitful direction… a touching exploration of what it means to be a parent and a charming meditation on family bonds’
★★★★ London Gay Life
Designer - Ceci Calf
Lighting Designer - Ryan Joseph Stafford
Sound Designer - Julian Starr
Casting Consultant - Nadine Rennie
Played at the King’s Head Theatre, 19th April - 7th May 2023
‘His artistry in direction and musical staging is a virtuoso exhibit’
BritishTheatre.com on The Burnt Part Boys
BACON
By Sophie Swithinbank
Originally presented by Izzy Hayden for Salt Lick Productions in association with Neil McPherson for the Finborough Theatre, subsequently presented by Hannah Farley Hills for HFH Productions
Bacon, the winner of Soho Theatre’s Tony Craze Award, is an unflinching look at masculinity, sexuality, and power.
‘This is a breath-taking piece of work… Director Matthew Iliffe does an extraordinary job’
★★★★★ Everything Theatre
‘Iliffe’s direction, and two terrific central performances, make this an unmissable piece of theatre’
★★★★★ Theatre Weekly
‘This is a very special piece of theatre’
★★★★★ UK Theatre Web
‘A masterclass in acting, directing, and writing’
★★★★★ To Do List
‘Direction by Matthew Iiiffe is perfectly paced… Powerful and tense, this is a play not to be missed’
★★★★★ BritishTheatre.com
'Bacon is a must-see of this year’s festival’
★★★★★ BroadwayWorld
’Director Matthew Iliffe mines every twist, awkwardness and surprise for emotional impact’
★★★★ The Arts Desk
‘This is quite some calling card… director Matthew Iliffe delivers a tensely poised and confident production of delicate equilibrium’
★★★★ iNews
‘Director Matthew Iliffe’s sizzling production’
★★★★ ReviewsHub
‘A slick, intense production of a piece of gutsy new writing… Iliffe’s nuanced direction draws the audience in’ ★★★★ The Stage
‘Totally captivating and unflinching modern theatre… should be given a much larger canvas’
★★★★ Boyz Magazine
‘Finds the pulse of modern Britain in alarming fashion’
★★★★ Morning Star
Off West End Award Winner for
Best Director
Best Performance in a Play for William Robinson and Corey Montague-Sholay
Standing Ovation Award Winner for
Best Production (Premiere)
Best Duologue (Corey Montague-Sholay and William Robinson)
Designer - Natalie Johnson
Lighting Designer - Ryan Joseph Stafford
Sound Designer - Mwen
Casting Consultant - Nadine Rennie
Played at the Finborough Theatre, 1st March - 2nd April 2022 and has subsequently been seen at Riverside Studios, Summerhall for Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Bristol Old Vic and SoHo Playhouse Off-Broadway in 2023
Photo Credit Darius Shu
‘Matthew Iliffe’s directing does wonders’
Everything Theatre on Four Play
FOUR PLAY
By Jake Brunger Presented by Above The StagFour Play takes a refreshing and honest look at how gay relationships work in a modern world inundated with dating and hook-up apps.
‘Director Matthew Iliffe doesn’t disappoint, bringing the excellent script and intense performances together in a joyous union’
★★★★★ TheatreWeekly
‘Director Matthew Iliffe maintains a crackling intensity’
★★★★ ReviewsHub
‘Matthew Iliffe’s assured direction’
★★★★ The Stage
‘As intelligent as it is entertaining’
★★★★ Everything Theatre
‘Matthew Iliffe clearly knows how to tell a story’
★★★★ Boyz Magazine
Off West End Award Nomination for
Best Supporting Actor (Male) for Marc MacKinnon
Designer - Carrie-Ann Stein
Lighting Designer - Jack Weir
Sound Designer - Nico Menghini
Casting Director - Harry Blumenau
Assistant Director - Chloe Seyer
Played at Above The Stag 15th January - 22nd February 2020
Photo Credit PBG Studios
‘A forward-thinking and meticulous director’
A Younger Theatre on The Burnt Part Boys
THE NICETIES
By Eleanor Burgess Presented by Giles Chiplin Productions in association with Neil McPhearson for the Finborough TheatreThe Niceties is a complex and compelling depiction of racial and generational divides which speaks directly to our polarised, post-truth era.
‘Matthew Iliffe’s production maintains its grip… surely deserves a transfer to a bigger stage’
★★★★ The Times
‘The Niceties positively excels’
★★★★ TheatreWeekly
‘Director Matthew Iliffe manages to keep this a battle you do not stop watching’ ★★★★ ReviewsGate
’You will leave the theatre questioning your own politics… Go see it if you value a verbal punch up’
★★★★ LondonTheatre1
‘Matthew Ilife’s production is incredibly watchable’
A Younger Theatre
‘If one test of a good play is the way it engages its audience long after they leave the theatre, then this one succeeded’
British Theatre Guide
Off West End Award nomination for
Best Performance in a Play (Female) for Moronkẹ Akinola
Designer - Rachel Stone
Lighting Designer - Lucía Sánchez Roldán
Sound Designer - Kate Marlais
Played at the Finborough Theatre 1st - 26th October 2019
Shanaé Chisholm and Nicola Watkinson acted as Embedded Critics on the production, observing the play in rehearsal and performance, you can read their reflections. They also hosted a Q&A with the playwright.
Photo Credit Ali Wright
‘Matthew Iliffe does an extraordinary job’
Everything Theatre on Bacon
MAGGIE MAY
Book by Alun Owen, Music & Lyrics by Lionel Bart Presented by SDWC Productions in association with Neil McPhearson for the Finborough TheatreA celebration of working class life in Liverpool’s docks in the 1960s, Maggie May is an allegorical musical drama from British songwriting legend Lionel Bart and playwright Alun Owen.
‘A breathtaking revival’
★★★★★ ReviewsHub
‘The thrill of Iliffe's production is that it brings this teaming world to vivid life’
★★★★ London Theatre
‘This Maggie May is a Maggie Must’
★★★★★ ReviewsGate
‘Its sympathetic handling of working-class life and hardships gives the show a gritty edge’ ★★★★★ London Pub Theatres
‘Ebbs and flows like a river current, in perfect harmony’
★★★★ The Upcoming
‘Kudos to the dauntless ambition of Matthew Iliffe’s chamber production which grapples with the material in considerable style’ The Times
Off West End Award nominations for Best Performance in a Musical (Female) for Kara Lily Hayworth and Best Set Design for Verity Johnson
Designer - Verity Johnson
Choreographer - Sam Spencer Lane
Lighting Designer - Jonathan Simpson
Musical Director - Henry Brennan
Sound Designer - Philip Matejtschuk
Casting Director - Debbie O’Brien
Assistant Director - Sophie Drake
Stage Manager - Robyn Manners
Played at the Finborough Theatre 27th March - 20th April 2019
Photo Credit Ali Wright
‘Matthew Iliffe maintains a crackling intensity’
ReviewsHub on Four Play
THE BURNT PART BOYS
Book by Mariana Elder, Music by Chris Miller, Lyrics by Nathan Tysen presented by SDWC Productions in association with Park TheatreHailed among critics as an innovative and gripping musical, The Burnt Part Boys is a coming of age story, following a group of teenagers living under the shadow of tragic mining accident which claimed the lives of their fathers.
'Gripping... expertly sung and staged'
★★★★ The Stage
'A new kind of musical... definitely worth seeing'
★★★★ The Upcoming
'A splendid musical adventure'
★★★★ ReviewsGate
'The Burnt Part Boys is a 90-minute gem well worth catching'
British Theatre Guide
‘The show, under Matthew Iliffe's direction, is also staged perfectly… unmissable musical theatre.’
★★★★★ Jonathan Baz
‘It’s the imaginative way that the audience is taken on this journey by director Matthew Illiffe that makes this show truly special.’
★★★★ Musical Theatre Review
Off West End Award nominations for: Best Musical Production (Finalists), Best Ensemble Acting, Best Director for Matthew Iliffe, and Best Musical Director for Nick Barstow
BroadwayWorld.com Award nominations for: Best New Musical, Best London Fringe Production, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor
Designer - Rachel Wingate
Lighting Designer - Charlie Morgan Jones
Musical Director - Nick Barstow
Sound Designer - Philip Matejtschuk
Casting Director - Claire Cassidy for Debbie O’Brien
Assistant Director - Emily Louizou
Played at Park90 at the Park Theatre 10th August - 3rd September 2016
Photo Credit Sacha Queiroz
‘The direction by Matthew Iliffe is astounding’
To Do List on Bacon