Matthew Russell, a graduate of our MSc Audio Engineering programme, has built a diverse and impressive career in the theatre industry. After gaining years of experience as a Lead Production Sound Engineer, Matthew’s time at Derby helped refine his expertise in audio theory, subwoofer placement, and line arrays. Although his career trajectory shifted slightly after graduation (and then back again) due to the pandemic, he used the downtime to work on product development, leading to a successful Kickstarter campaign for his device, the “Tweaker”. Since returning to theatre, Matthew has worked on major productions, including Cyrano De Bergerac and The Seagull, and supported the Re:emerge season. With a passion for blending creativity with technology, Matthew continues to evolve his career while balancing family life.
Matthew Russell, Class of 2019
Hometown:
Haywards Heath
Current location:
London
Current job + employer:
Self Employed – Lead Production Sound Engineer
What did you do/study prior to coming to Derby?
Lead Production Sound Engineer / Sound No. 1 (UK Theatre Industry)
Why did you choose to go to the University of Derby?
I felt I was getting into a bit of a rut career wise, I was tired of working evenings and I was looking for something challenging within the same sphere of interest which would allow me to potentially shift my career towards audio product development.
Has your subject area focus changed after graduating? If so, how?
Shortly after graduation the pandemic happened. From its absence, I actually realised I quite missed the theatre industry, for all its flaws, and resumed work in the sector in 2021 after using the pandemic period to develop some device ideas I had previously envisaged (and began work on in the Derby Makerspace) but never found the time to realise.
What was the most useful thing you learned on the course?
Subwoofer placement and line array theory
What was your favourite establishment in Derby (pub, bar, club, restaurant, etc.)?
Exeter Arms
What is your most memorable moment from Derby?
I’m sorry to say it’s not university related. I once went running and my keys fell out my pocket in Darley Park and I spent a whole afternoon hunting for them.
What/who at Derby most influenced your life, and how/why?
Ben Simmonds as we had a healthy competition going regarding course grades.
What would you say to a Derby first year student, knowing what you know now?
Don’t study at Masters level as a continuation of school because you don’t know what to do with your life. It’s only worth doing if you have the commitment and interest.
What have you done professionally since graduating?
Lead Production Sound Engineer on “”Cyrano De Bergerac”” feat. James McAvoy twice in the West End (pre and post pandemic) and transferred to Glasgow and Brooklyn. Filmed for NT live.
Lead Production Sound Engineer on “”The Seagull”” feat. Emilia Clarke twice in the west end (pre and post pandemic). Filmed for NT Live.
Lead Production Sound Engineer on the UK Tour of “”Ghost Stories”” also built a system for the Australian transfer.
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Spent a cold winter in a colleague’s scenic carpentry workshop learning to CAD model and successfully CNC machine aluminium. Led to developing a product called the “Tweaker”, a device for visualising high frequency dispersion, that had a successful Kickstarter campaign (pandemic).
A lot of painting, decorating and DIY (pandemic)
Tech supported a kid’s promenade production in Harrods (pandemic).
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Lead PSE for the Sonia Friedman Productions Re:emerge season post-pandemic comprising 3 plays in the west end at the Pinter Theatre which were filmed for Sky Arts.
PSE for Camp Siegfried and A Christmas Carol at the Old Vic, London.
Sound Recordist for the musical “Anything Goes” at the Barbican.
PSE 2 moving up to Lead PSE for touring moves on the UK tour of the Broadway musical “Waitress”
PSE 2 on UK touring moves of the production “Girl From The North Country”
Lead PSE for “Two Popes” and “A Christmas Carol” at the Rose Theatre, Kingston.
PSE on “Choir of Man” at the Arts Theatre
Lead PSE for “The Wife of Willesden” at the Kiln Theatre (2021 and 2022)
Lead PSE for “Much Ado About Nothing” for the National Youth Theatre
Lead PSE and mentor for “Curtains” at the Embassy Theatre, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.
What is your most memorable moment from your career so far?
Being considered valuable enough to get around the US union red tape enabling me to head out to Broadway and Brooklyn as Associate Sound Designer.
What are your future career plans/ambitions?
I have a young daughter (just over 1 now) therefore career ambitions are somewhat on hold. Production Sound Engineering shows actually works really well for a work life balance if you can cope with the uncertainty of employment.