Theatre dIrector, artist,
edUcator + voice cOach.
Matt McBrier is an Edinburgh-based queer, working class Scottish theatre artist. He holds BA (Hons) Perfomance from Mountview, and a Masters of Fine Arts in Directing from Edinburgh Napier University, tutored under former artistic director of The Lyceum Mark Thomson. Matt is interested in socially-motivated projects, new writing, facilitating performance education and participation.
Projects Matt has directed include CROSSING CARE by Kirin Saeed and Sara Garcia Pereda, a Creative Scotland-funded production for World Vision Day 2020, and performance art piece ANUNA by Elise Steenackers at the Talbot Rice Gallery. He received funding from the National Theatre of Scotland’s Develop Residency, to produce and direct a first version of rap musical by The Honey Farm in 2023, and has directed a research and development of Neil John Gibson’s new play HATING YOURSELF A HEALTHY AMOUNT. Matt was assistant director of James Ley’s Fringe First-winning play, ODE TO JOY (HOW GORDON GOT TO GO TO THE NASTY PIG PARTY).
Matt is a sought-after dramaturg, having received expert mentorship as Playwrights’ Studio Scotland’s Trainee Dramaturg. Projects Matt has given dramaturgical support to include INTERVIEW! INTERVIEW! INTERVIEW! by Lintong Zhang, THE BOY WHO THOUGHT HE COULD SWIM by David McNeish, and Rachel O’Regan’s Fringe First-winning play THE BEATLES WERE A BOYBAND.
As an educator, Matt is a regular acting tutor at Edinburgh Acting School and also freelances with his own private tutoring. Matt is available for acting lessons, voice coaching, workshopping and dramaturgy.
CROSSING CARE (Director)
ODE TO JOY (Assistant Director)
THE BEATLES WERE A BOYBAND (Dramaturgy)
ANUNA (Director)
INTERVIEW! INTERVIEW! INTERVIEW! (Dramaturg)
THE HONEY FARM MUSICAL (Director)
“Before I met Matt, I was a wannabe audiobook narrator with speech issues. He was very quickly able to help me with my speech, and by continuing to patiently teach me various exercises and in-depth techniques, he found something in me that took me well beyond my original goal. I now earn a living as a voiceover artist and voice actor. Matt is a joy to work with. I couldn’t recommend him more.”
— Wendy Lap, writer, theatre maker + voice actor
“You know when you work with an excellent new director/dramaturg for the first time and it's really stimulating and you feel all fired up for the next draft? That's how I felt after workshopping with Matt. He’s insightful, generous and brilliant.”
— Jen McGregor, playwright, director + acting coach
“I will always go to Matt when I need advice on my script. His dramaturgy is always delivered with care and attention to detail. He has a great understanding of theatre, drama and character, helping to drive the text to its very best.”
— Rachel O’Regan, playwright
Contact
mattmcbrier@gmail.com