Matthew Forbes - Puppetry and Movement Director

Matthew works internationally as a Director, with a strong focus on puppetry, object manipulation and physical theatre. He trained at the Royal Central School of Speech & Drama as an Actor, specialising in collaborative and devised theatre.

Alongside his professional directing career Matthew also teaches puppetry and movement internationally working with students in productions and projects from ArtsEd, East15 and the Royal Central School of Speech & Drama.

Credits include: War Horse (National Theatre, UK Tour); L'Olimpiade (Irish National Opera); Hansel & Gretel (Nottingham Playhouse); Bluebeard's Castle (Beijing Music Festival); The Magic Flute (Welsh National Opera, UK Tour); A Christmas Carol (Nottingham Playhouse, Alexandra Palace, BBC & cinema release); The Good Life (UK Tour); Hansel & Gretel (Silent Opera, British Youth Opera); The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland (UK Tour); The Woman Who Finally Got Inside Her Husband's Brain (Omnibus Theatre); Holes (UK Tour); Skellig (Nottingham Playhouse); Treasure Island (Leicester Haymarket Theatre); Once on this Island (ArtsEd); Holes (Nottingham Playhouse); Babe The Sheep-Pig (Polka Theatre & National Tour); Dinner at the Twits (Les Enfants Terribles, The Vaults); The Witches (Dundee Rep); Adventures in Wonderland (Les Enfants Terribles, The Vaults); The Diabolical Mr Punch (LeftCoast); and The Steadfast Tin Soldier (Little Angel Theatre & The Old Vic).

Associate/Assistant Credits include: War Horse (UK & International Tour 2019-2020); War Horse (UK Tour 2017-2018); Kiki’s Delivery Service (Southwark Playhouse); War Horse (UK, Ireland & South Africa 2013-2015); War Horse (Holland & Belgium tour 2014-2016); War Horse (Australia & New Zealand 2012-2013); War Horse (China 2016-2017); and Alice’s Adventures Underground (Les Enfants Terribles, The Vaults).

RECENT NewS

Matthew is the Puppetry Director for the National Theatre's production of WAR HORSE, which begins its new UK Tour this September. This tour marks 110 years since the start of the First World War and follows the 40th anniversary of the publication of Michael Morpurgo’s global best-selling novel, which has now sold over 35 million copies world-wide and in 37 different languages.

He was the Movement Director on the critically acclaimed world premiere new production of L'OLIMPIADE, for the Irish National Opera. The production toured Ireland before playing a sold out run at the Royal Opera House, and a live recording was featured on BBC Radio Three. This fabulous Baroque opera features tangled relationships, forbidden love, an unsuccessful assassination, and an execution avoided.

Matthew recently directed the revival of Bartók's BLUEBEARD'S CASTLE at the Beijing Music Festival. This multi award winning opera has been seen across the world and continues to impress audiences and critics alike.

Last Christmas Matthew was busy providing puppetry direction for two shows at the Nottingham Playhouse; HANSEL & GRETEL in the studio, and the critically acclaimed retelling of A CHRISTMAS CAROL, adapted by Mark Gatiss (Dracula, The League of Gentlemen, Doctor Who). Following huge success in 2021, the show played at both the Nottingham Playhouse, and London's Alexandra Palace. The production featured spine-tingling special effects and puppetry "in a big, bold inventive, yet remarkably faithful staging of Dickens's evergreen opus" (The Telegraph).

Matthew was the Puppet and Movement Director for world premiere new production of THE MAGIC FLUTE. This exciting new adaptation by the Welsh National Opera takes the enchanting fairy-tale and gives it a modern twist. Vibrant sets, puppets, and costumes accompanied by Mozart’s sublime music and a witty story makes this the perfect opera for all ages.

Matthew is the Puppetry Consultant for THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME. This Olivier and Tony Award-winning production returns for a 10th Anniversary UK & Ireland Tour.

Matthew was the Puppetry Director for the Wise Owl Theatre Company's production of THE ADVENTURES OF ALICE IN WONDERLAND. This timeless and beautiful production was a hit with critics and audiences alike.

Matthew directed the world premiere of a new adaptation of TREASURE ISLAND, written by national treasure and established author Sandi Toksvig (The Great British Bake Off, QI). The production received rave reviews from audiences and critics alike, and was the first production at the newly reopened Leicester Haymarket Theatre.

Reviews

"Movement, directed by Matthew Forbes, is suffused with grace and poetry, whether depicting off-stage events such as the original back story and the Olympic Games themselves, or offering collective, symbolic responses to a singer’s words”

Irish Times - L'Olimpiade

★★★★

"Matthew Forbes’s movement are in perfect harmony with the concept of director Daisy Evans”

The arts desk - L'Olimpiade

★★★★★

"...artfully energetic movement designed by Matthew Forbes”

Irish independent - L'Olimpiade

"…the inventiveness of movement director, Matthew Forbes, who can portray a drowning man being rescued at sea or the Olympic pentathlon with equal aplomb”

Culture Whisper - L'Olimpiade

"The production is utterly, and fabulously, theatrical... ethereal ghosts fly over the heads of the audience by means of the simplest of puppet-making techniques.... in a big, bold, inventive yet remarkably faithful staging of Dickens's evergreen opus. The standing ovation it received on opening night will not, one suspects, be its last”

The Telegraph - A christmas carol

★★★★★

"...the inherent theatricality in Dickens's storytelling, is heightened with the use of puppets and some bewitching surprises such as a delightful cloud of ghosts that suddenly emerge and swing around the auditorium”

The Guardian - A christmas carol

"A Christmas Carol entertains with its ghostly atmospheres and compassionate stories... a range of devices are employed to convey the story including singing, dancing illusion, video and puppetry”

Whatsonstage - A christmas carol

★★★★

"The is how to make Dickens's greatest hit feel both surprising and familiar! Cast members manipulate a puppet dog...then later lift Gatiss as Marley's ghost so that he appears to levitate”

The times - A christmas carol

"...the presence of projections, puppets and all sorts of flying spectres makes for an immersive and textured experience”

London Theatre - A christmas carol

★★★★

"We have puppets, illusions, projections - each wonderful concocted”

The stage - A christmas carol

"Traditional with a twist... there is so much seasonal joy on display”

EAST MIDLANDS THEATRE - A CHRISTMAS CAROL

★★★★★

"Gatiss draws on some of the horror of the story, like the ghostly children of Christmas Present, ignorance and Want, puppets with grey, emaciated faces”

The stage - A christmas carol

"A dramatic, spine-tingling production”

visit nottinghamshire - A christmas carol

"A goat named Geraldine...a scene-stealing puppet”

BROADWAYWORLD.COM - THE GOOD LIFE

★★★★

"Puppet goat Geraldine is almost worth the price of admission alone”

THE STAGE - THE GOOD LIFE

"Magical effects - shadow puppets, flying birds - are coaxed out of what seems like a junkyard”

The times - Hansel & Gretel

★★★★

"The combination of puppetry and dance used for some of the numbers, notably the Act Two dream pantomime was both brilliantly inventive and skilfully executed”

Planet Hugill - Hansel & Gretel

“It begins with a display of puppetry that nods towards family hits such as The Lion King and War Horse. Except the snakes, spiders and lizards that slide and scuttle across the vast desert floor are venomous rather than cute and loveable”

THE GUARDIAN - HOLES

★★★★

“The puppet director, Matthew Forbes, ensures that the deadly lizards that threaten Stanley and his friend Magnet feel properly deadly”

THE TIMES - HOLES

★★★★

“The final ingredient is the brilliantly-done puppetry, complete with well-observed rattlesnakes and deadly yellow-spotted lizards with glowing eyes"

The Reviews Hub - holes (UK Tour)

★★★★

“There are a few puppets in the show, a slithering rattlesnake, tarantula and the infamous yellow spotted lizards, one bite and you are dead, they are simple but elegant and the puppet mastery is faultless, they are very cleverly integrated into the show"

What's Good to do - holes (UK Tour)

★★★★★

“Matthew Forbes' puppetry designs are clever...it is rich in creative tricks and touches”

BRITISH THEATRE GUILD - HOLES (UK TOUR)

“Crammed with yellow-spotted lizards, rattlesnakes and tarantulas, perfectly constructed by puppet director and co-designer Matthew Forbes. Seen scuttling across the vast desert floor like a scene from The Lion King or War Horse, the presence of puppetry shows a clever invention which only reinforces the canny construction of the meticulous plot”

BIRMINGHAM MAIL - HOLES (UK TOUR)

★★★★

“Puppetry is utilised brilliantly in the piece. Simple but skilfully operated, puppets portrayed the array of critters found in the deserts- including the famous yellow spotted lizards"

Fairy Powered Productions - Holes (UK Tour)

★★★★

“I’ve rarely seen a piece as accomplished; a creative and technical feat of plate-juggling that delivers a big emotional drama with laughs, dancing – and most of all, yellow-spotted lizards…”

Left Lion - Holes (UK Tour)

“Holes uses dance, costume and puppetry (there are evil-eyed lizards and rattlesnakes that appear as a kind of malignant and threatening force throughout the play) to witty effect”

Muddy StileTTos - Holes (UK TouR)

“Funny, tender and profound family show based on David Almond’s mystical children’s novel”

THE STAGE - SKELLIG

★★★★

“There are puppets; a dog, a cat and some owls, created from everyday found objects, but who are skilfully manipulated to look like they are alive. These puppets add another quirky, cartoon-like layer to the complex scene”

EAST MIDLANDS THEATRE - SKELLIG

★★★★

“A spirit of adventure laced with magical realism"

THE Times - Skellig

★★★★

“Witty and original... Clever, funny and poignant”

THE STAGE - Treasure Island

★★★★

“Energetically directed by Matthew Forbes... we are treated to a fun, musically and visually arresting show”

EAST MIDLANDS THEATRE - TReasure Island

★★★★

“Director Matthew Forbes delivers an enjoyable family production, perfect for Christmas... with much for children and adults alike to enjoy”

BRITISH THEATRE GUILD - Treasure Island

★★★★

“There is clever and simple puppetry, some breath-holding moments... A fast-paced and inventive family show that works on every level”

THE STAGE - Holes

★★★★

“The people on stage are ably supported by puppet tarantulas, rattlesnakes and yellow spotted lizards which are absolutely perfect for this production”

The REVIEWS HUB - Holes

★★★★★

“The stage is filled with animals and the incredible puppetry direction by Matthew Forbes lets your imagination do the rest”

EVERYTHING THEATRE - Holes

★★★★

“An outstanding feature of the production is the puppetry and mask work”

Livetheatre.co.uk - Babe The Sheep-pig

★★★★

“The magic here is created largely by the excellence of the puppetry skills displayed throughout by the actors in well-fashioned, intricate and brilliantly choreographed displays”

THE REVIEWS HUB - Babe The Sheep-Pig

★★★★

"...puppet director Matthew Forbes – turns a hand-operated Babe into a character for kids to root for.”

The Stage - Babe The Sheep-Pig

"A host of wonderfully inventive puppets... Then, of course, there is Babe himself, an adorable puppet with moving limbs, mouth and even eyelids. Deftly handled and earnestly voiced, he makes for a charismatic protagonist”