I’m an award-winning theatre director.

Most recently, I have been Associate Director to Charlie Parham on the hit new musical Starter For Ten, currently playing at the Bristol Old Vic and Birmingham Rep.

This Summer I directed award-winning producer Ellie Keel’s debut play, SKYE: A Thriller, which played to sold-out houses at Summerhall for the Edinburgh Fringe. Starring Dawn Steele, SKYE received many excellent reviews, including ‘director Matthew Iliffe keeps the tension taut’ WhatsOnStage, ‘Matthew Iliffe directs deftly’ The Stage and ‘well-judged direction by Matthew Iliffe... an emotionally raw examination’ BroadwayBaby.

Earlier this year I travelled to Seoul, South Korea, to direct Sophie Bacon by Sophie Swithinbank in its first foreign language production, having first directed the play’s world premiere at the Finborough Theatre in 2022. The production has subsequently been seen at at Summerhall for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Bristol Old Vic and SoHo Playhouse NYC.

‘Elegantly directed by Matthew Iliffe… shimmers with tension’

The Stage on Foam

Work

As director

  • SKYE: A THRILLER BY ELLIE KEEL

    Summerhall, Edinburgh Fringe Festival

  • Bacon by Sophie Swithinbank

    Finborough Theatre, Riverside Studios, Edinburgh Fringe and SoHo Playhouse NYC

    More

  • Foam by Harry McDonald

    Finborough Theatre

    More

  • Snakes and Ladders by Louis Emmitt Stern

    Oxford School of Drama/Southwark Playhouse

  • Breeding by Barry McStay

    King’s Head Theatre

    More

  • The Burnt Part Boys by Chris Miller, Nathan Tysen and Marina Elder

    Park Theatre

    More

  • Four Play by Jake Brunger

    Above The Stag

  • Maggie May by Alun Owen and Lionel Bart

    Finborough Theatre

  • The Niceties by Eleanor Burgess

    Finborough Theatre

As associate or assistant director

Work

  • STARTER FOR TEN

    Directed by Charlie Parham

    Adapted from the novel by David Nicholls, book and lyrics by Emma Hall and Charlie Parham, music and lyrics by Hattie Carman and Tom Rasmussen

    Bristol Old Vic/Birmingham Rep

  • Assassins

    Directed by Polly Findlay

    Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by John Weidman

    Chichester Festival Theatre

  • ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS

    Directed by John Doyle

    Music and Lyrics by Steven Lutvak, book by Jay Dyer

    Theatre Royal Bath

  • Brass

    Directed by Hannah Chissick

    Book, music and lyrics by Benjamin Till

    National Youth Music Theatre/Hackney Empire

  • Musik

    Directed by Josh Seymour

    Music and lyrics by The Pet Shop Boys, book by Jonathan Harvey

    Leicester Square Theatre

  • BLACK SUPERHERO

    Directed by Daniel Evans

    By Danny Lee Wynter

    Jerwood Theatre Downstairs, The Royal Court

‘His artistry in direction and musical staging is a virtuoso exhibit’

BritishTheatre.com on The Burnt Part Boys

Biography

Theatre as director includes: SKYE: A Thriller (Summerhall, Edinburgh Fringe) Snakes & Ladders (Oxford School of Drama/The Large, Southwark Playhouse); Nell Gwynn (Arts Educational Schools/Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation Theatre); Foam (Finborough Theatre); Breeding (King’s Head Theatre); Bacon (Finborough Theatre, Riverside Studios, Summerhall Edinburgh, Bristol Old Vic, SoHo Playhouse NYC and Yes24 Seoul); Four Play (Above The Stag); The Niceties (Finborough Theatre); Maggie May (Finborough Theatre) and The Burnt Part Boys (Park Theatre).

As assistant or associate director: Alfred Hitchcock Presents (Theatre Royal Bath, Dir. John Doyle), 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).
As associate: Starter for Ten (Bristol Old Vic/Birmingham Rep, Dir. Charlie Parham), Musik (Leicester Square Theatre, Dir. Josh Seymour).

Awards include: Best Director of a Play at the Off West End Awards; Best Production at the Standing Ovation Awards for Bacon at the Finborough; Best Production at the Standing Ovation Awards for Foam at the Finborough.

Training/Education:
National Theatre Directors Course 2023
Theatre & Performance Studies BA (Hons), First Class, University of Bristol 2015 - 2018
StoneCrabs Young Directors Programme 2014

‘The direction by Matthew Iliffe is astounding’

To Do List on Bacon

Contact me

For theatrical enquiries please contact Maddie O’Dwyer at Berlin Associates.

For everything else, please use the form below.