As a singer/actor, Matthew has performed in more than 20 premiere performances of operas and experimental music theatre works, including works by Constantine Koukias, Philip Glass, Maria Grenfell, Claudio Pompili, Hugh Covill, Christopher Williams, Joe Bugden and Raffaello Marcellino. He is a founding member of the IHOS Music Theatre Laboratory and holds a bachelor of music in composition from the University of Tasmania. He studies voice and has received tuition from Helen Todd, Constantine Koukias, Julianne Van der Boor, Christopher Richardson, Marilyn Smith and Australian Soprano Jane Edwards.
His appearances as a principal performer have included the bass soloist in the Australasian Premiere of Philip Glass’ opera “Hydrogen Jukebox”, Archondas (Landlord) in I Protomastoras (Masterbuilder) by Manolis Kalomiris (1st performance outside of Greece), the Caretaker in Claudio Pompili’s opera Touch Wood (both Adelaide and Hobart seasons), the lead role of Douglas Mawson in the world premiere concert version of Joe Bugden’s opera “The Call of the Aurora”, and George Westinghouse in Constantine Koukias’ opera “TESLA – Lightning in his Hand” (Suite Version) for the Australian Performing Arts Market (APAM). Recent performances include the role of Arturas in the first workshop staging of Constantine Koukias’ newly commissioned opera “Olegas” and the role of Mawson in Joe Bugden’s opera “The Call of the Aurora”.
His in addition to his musical training, Matthew studied Butoh and Kabuki movement techniques with Jindra Rosendorf, acting and performance training at Elizabeth College, and has attended workshops and master classes covering an array of performance practices including puppetry, contemporary dance, improvisationand extended vocal techniques from leading arts and theratre practitioners Robert Jarman, Rick Goddard, Helen Todd, Constantine Koukias, Christos Linou, Yuha Vaharkarteno, Ferit Seljuk and Don bate.
View Matthew’s performance history as a singer….>
Matthew singing in the premiere of Christopher William's "As if Electronically Controlled" for the IHOS Music Theatre Laboratory, September 2007. Photo: Peter Mathew
L-R Gina Bashford, Marilyn Smith, Michael Lampard, Matthew Dewey and Goran Jordanov singing in the workshop premiere of Constantine Koukias' opera "Olegas" for IHOS Music Theatre and Opera, September 2007. Photo: Peter Mathew
Matthew Dewey in the Australasian premiere of Philip Glass's opera Hydrogen Jukebox, for the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music, Mount Nelson Theatre 2003.
L-R (In front) Craig Wood, Matthew Dewey and Adam Purton in the Australasian premiere of Philip Glass's opera Hydrogen Jukebox, for the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music, Mount Nelson Theatre 2003.
L-R Rhonda Niemann, Matthew Dewey, Craig Wood (Obscured), Rachel Guy and Ainslie Keele in the premiere production of Claudio Pompili's "Touch Wood" for the IHOS Music Theatre Laboratory, Peacock Theatre, 2002.
