June 2020 - Matthew Linley

Teaching – BA Creative Producing (East 15 / University of Essex)

June 27, 2020June 25, 2020 by Matthew Linley

Client – East 15 / University of Essex Project/Role – Guest Lecturer

Creating A Scene – capital projects for New Wolsey Theatre

October 14, 2020June 25, 2020 by Matthew Linley

Client – New Wolsey Theatre Project/Role – Capital Projects Director Creating a Scene is an ambitious £3 million capital project which will see the transformation of Theatre Square and the refurbishment of New Wolsey Theatre itself. The project continues despite the challenges of Covid19, with New Wolsey 2 due to open mid September and the revamped New Wolsey Theatre in November 2020. About Creating A Scene The New Wolsey has for many years now sat on a much loved but largely declining site. It’s a site full of its own history and civic pride – the former home to the Council, Police and Magistrate Courts. It’s a key gateway into the town for many. Together with developer Charterhouse, and architects WGPA New Wolsey are building a new vision for this site. Whilst the overall vision will take 5 to 10 years to fully realise we are mid way through what you might call the first phase (Creating A Scene). These ciritcal first steps are vital in unlocking the full vision for the whole site. Creating A Scene includes: -the creation and fit out of a brand new participation facility called NW2 -the development of a new public space called Theatre Square -reimagined, with a new outdoor performance space at its heart. -the refurbishment of the existing New Wolsey Theatre building – a brand new front of house experience, more comfortable seats – a world class welcome to match the world class art on our stages. Overall this phase will enable …

The Chronicles of Atom and Luna – a new project from Murray Lachlan Young

October 13, 2020June 25, 2020 by Matthew Linley

Client Collaborative project with Murray Lachlan Young. Being delivered by Funnelwick Limb Role – Creative Producer The Project We launched the project to the public on October 15th 2020 We’ll release the first iteration of the story as a series of story casts from 30 November 2020, more digital content will follow in Spring 2021 followed by the launch of the play and book in either Autumn 21 or Spring 22. To be the first to find out about the project sign up for the newsletter at Funnelwick Limb The Story Our heroes, Atom and Luna, (left home-alone by their mother) are saved from starvation by the arrival of the magical child-minder Iffly Sney. But Iffly falls terribly ill and only the twins can save him. They must seek out the mysterious Old Mother Red-Beard. And so begins a journey deep into the heart of the forest that will change their lives forever. The team Lead Artist – Murray Lachlan Young Director – Nina Hajiyianni Designer – Bek Palmer Digital enabler – Paul Long and MBD Ltd Music by Paul Hartnoll Development Performers – Joe Allen and Simone Lewis Co-producers – Action Transport Theatre and Eastern Angles BSL Interpretor – Kate Labno Digital Assets – Warehouse Digital

The Ballad of Maria Marten – national tour 2020, Autumn 2021

June 30, 2020June 25, 2020 by Matthew Linley

In Spring 2020 – together with Eastern Angles and Stephen Joseph Theatre in the Round – I successfully toured THE BALLAD OF MARIA MARTEN by Beth Flintoff. Following that success we are looking to tour the show again in Autumn 2021 – details of that here on the show mini site mariamarten.com

Our goal was to develop a high-quality production and to reach as wide an audience as possible, with a particular focus on audiences outside of the East region.

The Spring 2020 tour visited 3 venues , 17 performances playing to audiences in excess of 4,000. The show played to significant critical acclaim:

Flintoff restores dignity to Maria Marten…unexpectedly joyous” The Guardian ★★★★

“* Extraordinary, brilliant and powerful” Charles Hutchinson Press ★★★★★

“A thrilling and poignant retelling” Grapevine Magazine

“It is vital, layered and empowered, a beautiful piece of theatre” ★★★★

“This is a gem of a production” – Yorkshire ON Magazine

The sizzle

‘It’s been a year since I died and still nobody has found me’

Summer. 1827. In a Red Barn Maria Marten awaits her lover. A year later her body is found under the floor of the barn in a grain sack, barely identifiable.

Maria’s story sent shock waves throughout the country. The Red Barn Murder (as it became known) was national news, inspiring writers and filmmakers down the ages. The sort of gruesome tale that had all the hallmarks of a classic crime drama – a missing body, a country location, a disreputable squire and a village stuck in its age old traditions.

But in all this hysteria Maria’s own story gets lost. Until now – Hal Chambers and Beth Flintoff’s spine tingling retelling rediscovers her story, bringing it back to vivid, urgent life.