Matt Torney

I am currently the Associate Artistic Director of Studio Theatre in Washington DC (www.studiotheatre.org)

Originally from Belfast, I worked as a freelance director in Ireland before moving to the United States in 2006 to complete an MFA in directing at Columbia University. I have directed extensively in New York, regionally in the USA, and internationally, and my productions have been nominated for numerous awards.

My work is grounded in the idea that theatre, and other live art forms, are a vital response to a world that is becoming increasingly displaced onto digital platforms and virtual communication. Theatre by its nature is about place and presence. Artists and audience come together in the same space, united by stories that celebrate, console, and wrestle with the complexity of modern life. I believe that the best work happens when a theatre connects deeply with its community, welcomes diverse voices, and fearlessly investigates the present moment.

I direct both new plays and dynamic productions of classics, with a focus on deep work with actors, and creating vivid imagery through design. Recent work at Studio includes If I Forget by Steven Levenson (nominated for three Helen Hayes Awards), MotherStruck! by Staceyann Chin (nominated for 2 Helen Hayes Awards including ‘Best Production’), Translations by Brian Friel, and The Hard Problem by Tom Stoppard. (For a full resume click here.)

Studio Theatre produces a 10 show season of ‘the best of contemporary theatre in deliberately intimate spaces’ and is recognized as one of the leading mid-sized regional theatre in the US.  As Associate Artistic Director, I am part of Studio’s Senior Staff, and I direct in the season as well as serving as the lead creative producer for all productions. I have produced cutting edge new plays from American and International writers (including The Effect, Wig Out! and The Apple Family Plays) world premieres (including work by Aaron Posner, Hilary Bettis, Morgan Gould, and Tearrance Chisholm) as well as immersive work and imaginative stagings of contemporary classics. I also manage the day to day operations of the artistic department, including leading casting and scouting activities, participating in season planning, leading institutional development projects and managing key community partnerships.  Due to my specialized background as an art director, I also work closely with the marketing department on producing photography and video for both print and digital campaigns (read more about my art directing here).  

Prior to joining the team at Studio, I was the Director of Programming for Origin Theatre, an Off-Broadway company whose mission is to bring the best of European new writing to the USA.  Additionally, from 2007 to 2015 I was an Associate Director of Rough Magic in Dublin, one of Ireland’s leading independent theatre companies for over 30 years. I am also a part time lecturer at the University of Maryland in the School of Theatre.