Waiting for Godot Sean Mathias

Sean Mathias

Director

As a writer, his stage plays are: Cowardice (1983); Infidelities (1985 - Perrier Pick of the Fringe); A Prayer for Wings (Fringe First Award); Poor Nanny (1989); Swansea Boys (1993). He adapted David Leavitt’s novel The Lost Language of Cranes for BBC Television (1992), screened at the London Film Festival - it also won the Golden Gate Award for Best Television Drama and was nominated for Radio Times Best Screenplay. His novel Manhattan Mourning is published by Brilliance Books.

As a director, his work includes: A Prayer for Wings (Bush); Infidelities (Donmar Warehouse and Boulevard); Exceptions (New End); Bent (Royal National Theatre and Garrick - City Limits Award for Revival of the Year); Uncle Vanya (Royal National Theatre - nominated for five Olivier Awards); Ghosts (Sherman Theatre, Cardiff); Les Parents Terribles (Royal National Theatre - nominated for seven Olivier Awards) - and on Broadway as Indiscretions (nominated for nine Tony Awards); Design for Living (Donmar Warehouse and Gielgud - nominated for four Olivier Awards). His highly acclaimed and award winning production of A Little Night Music (also nominated for four Oliviers) broke box office records in an extended run at the Royal National Theatre. His production of Marlene (nominated for two Olivier awards) played at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue and the Cort Theatre Broadway (nominated for two Tony awards), as well as touring internationally to numerous cities including Paris, Dublin and Cape Town. His production of Anthony and Cleopatra enjoyed a legendary box office success at the Royal National Theatre in 1998 and the award-winning Suddenly Last Summer ran at The Comedy Theatre in 1999. In 2001 he directed a new play Servicemen Off-Broadway for The New Group and later that year his production of Strindberg’s Dance of Death played at the Broadhurst theatre on Broadway (nominated for one Tony award). In 2002 he directed The Elephant Man (nominated for two Tony awards) at the Royale theatre on Broadway and Stephen Sondheim’s Company at the Kennedy Center in Washington as part of the Sondheim Celebration. The London production of Dance of Death opened at the Lyric, Shaftesbury Avenue in March 2003 and played the Sydney Festival 2004. Antigone (starring John Kani) opened at the Grahamstown Theatre Festival in 2004 in South Africa and then transferred to Cape Town. At Christmas 2004 and Christmas 2005 he directed Sir Ian McKellen as Dame in the Old Vic pantomime - Aladdin. Also in 2005 a new play Shoreditch Madonna by Rebecca Lenkiewicz at the Soho Theatre. In 2006 The Cherry Orchard starring Annette Bening in Los Angeles broke all box office records at The Mark Taper Forum. In 2007 Sean directed Edna O’Brien’s Triptych at the Market Theatre in Johnannesburg and then again at the Southwark Playhouse in 2008. In Spring 2008 he directed Ring Round The Moon at the Playhouse Theatre in the West End. For radio he has directed Les Parents Terribles.

His feature film Bent was released in the US by MGM and in the UK by Film Four Distribution. It has won numerous awards internationally including La Prix de la Jeunesse at the official Cannes Film Festival (1998). Sean has won the Evening Standard and the Critics Circle Awards for Best Director. His productions have been nominated for 22 Olivier and 14 Tony awards.

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