Matthew Rutherford

Ramsay

Matthew began working professionally 14 years ago in two seasons of rep with Riding Lights Theatre Company, culminating with a European tour of A Different Drum.

Matthew’s work as a musician got him his first West End show shortly afterwards in The Buddy Holly Story as one of the lead role Crickets. His music skills (particularly on double bass) enabled him to join an Ambassadors Theatre Group number one tour of John Doyle’s production of Sweeney Todd starring Jason Donovan. Another Sondheim musical followed, also directed by John Doyle, but exclusively for The Watermill Theatre, Newbury in a production of Merrily We Roll Along. Matthew’s last show, a satire called Pins and Needles, was given a five star review from Time Out. In their end of year summary, the production at The Cock Tavern in Kilburn, was given ‘Best Fringe Production of 2010’. Performed in Britain for the first time it had originally been a 1930’s Broadway hit, created by the ILGWU (International Ladies Garment Workers Union!).

After the world premiere of The Inland Sea for Oxford Stage Company (Dir. Dominic Dromgoole), Matthew worked for Dale Theater Kompani as Karston Bernick in Ibsen’s Pillars of Society, (a four star review by Warwick Thompson of The Metro and play of the week in The Independent). His role of Krogstaad in A Doll’s House was taken to the National Theatre, Oslo, for their Ibsen festival. Macduff in Macbeth (UK tour), A Midsummer Nights Dream at The Lakeside Theatre, Hever Castle and Lord Capulet in Romeo and Juliet, New Players Theatre (West End) are some examples of his classical experience.

In the summer of 2009 he played the role of Jesus in an open air promenade production of The Passion around the grounds of Gatton Park, Surrey, leading a cast of 60 members. From 2009 into the summer of 2010 Matthew was on tour playing to number one houses up and down the country in Spike Milligans WWII memoirs in Hitler: My Part in His Downfall.

Matthew’s film credits include Rider in Ridley Scott’s Kingdom of Heaven; leading roles in Ambition as Julius, and as Lucas Devilliers, in Sunrise Productions (South Africa), The Silent Fall. He enjoyed shooting many scenes with Filippino megastar Sharon Cuneta in Caregiver , directed by Chito Rono. The film was a box office hit in the Philippines by producers Star Cinema. (And was one of the final two choices to represent the Philippines at the Oscars).

His television credits include Dr Jerard in Lynda La Plantes Commander with Amanda Burton for ITV. Matthew recently voiced his first animated feature film, Lion Of Judah starring Michael Madsen and Ernest Borgnine. He has since started performing as a voiceover artist and hopes to set up his own studio to meet the demands of the ‘need it now’ media world.

He is delighted to be in Stone Cold Murder, an exciting new piece of writing (and his second world premiere) performed here at Vienna’s English Theatre. The beauty of Vienna has helped him to lure his wife and two little boys over and join him for Easter.