Matthew Linley is a Creative Producer and Consultant working across consultancy, capital projects, theatre projects and interim executive roles.
Current projects include 12 Yuletime Yarns and Agatha Rose for Funnelwick Limb, Shuff and Byng and Katharine for Slaget (Matthew’s company for the creation of new work), Glitch and William the Conqueror for Rabble Theatre, More Life for Kandinsky and We’ve had Such a Lovely Time for Dan Shearer and Araminta Wraith.
Recent capital projects include Client Representative on the Raw Material Capital Project in London, and during 2024 I was Interim Associate Producer for Told by an Idiot.
Past project highlights include Ballad of Maria Marten (with Eastern Angles and The SJT), The City and the Town by Anders Lustgarten (with Riksteatern, Sweden) and the UK tour of Nina a story about me and Nina Simone. Matthew was interim Administrative Director and Capital Projects Manager for New Wolsey Theatre across Covid overseeing the RIBA award winning development of NW2, Theatre Square and the refurbishment of New Wolsey Theatre itself.
In 2019 Matthew founded Funnelwick Limb together with director Nina Hajiyianni, designer Bek Palmer and lead artist Murray Lachlan Young. The company launched with The Mystery of Raddlesham Mumps which toured nationally 3 times until Covid shut thee 3rd tour down. The company then launched The Chronicles of Atom and Luna which toured in 2022 and 2024, alongside an augmented reality game, book and six audio tales. Find out more at funnelwicklimb.com
Previous roles include Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Unity Theatre, Liverpool and General Manager of Eastern Angles, At Unity. Co-productions whilst at Unity included Nina – a story about me and Nina Simone (with Riksteatern), Lampedusa (with Soho Theatre and Hightide), Princess and the Pea, Little Red and the Big Bad Wolf and The Jungle Book (with Action Transport now Theatre Porto), Bardolph’s Box (with Up The Road Theatre) and Chicken (with Eastern Angles). At Eastern Angles Matthew produced 18 shows for the company touring into community centres, theatres, supermarket basements, aircraft hangers, railway museums and ancient monuments, to name but a few.
Past work as an independent producer includes the Insulting Cabaret for International Pen/Royal National Theatre and five Phrased & Confused festival stages and two national tours. With Windswept Productions Murray Lachlan Young’s The Incomers (directed by Paul Jepson) and the first UK tour for leading Croatian artists –BadCo and DB indos.
Matthew originally cut his teeth in venues – as Arts Manager of the Michael Tippett Centre (Bath), Arts Co-ordinator (21 South Street) and Director of Phoenix Arts Centre (Leicester).
Operating out of Harwich Arts and Heritage Centre, I’m a board member of the Mercury Theatre and an associate of the hub. When I’m not making creative things happen I’m a passionate (but awful) cricketer who enjoys the odd pint of real ale!