Matt Sykes-Hooban

Matt has been working as a designer and technical manager in the UK and internationally since early 2000, in this time he has worked on some 50 different design projects ranging from theatre and musicals to dance and puppetry, and along the way dipping into contemporary Live Art. He has also worked on about the same number of projects as a Technical Stage Manager. Matt learnt early on in his career that diversity equals a long and happy future in the Arts, although it can be busy at times!

Career highlights as designer so far, include designing the set for She’s Lost Control for Instant Dissidence (2010); several set designs for the Leicester Little Theatre including 84 Charing Cross Road and Stags and Hens in Leicester (2005-2008); set design for Macbeth in London for Dancing Shadows (2007); Set and prop design for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the World Scout Jamboree in the UK (2007); set design for South Pacific in Sheffield for Opt-In Theatre (2004); and the many productions he designed for the Bridge Theatre Summer Repertory, including Mister Cinders, Salad Days, Absent Friends and My Mother Said I Never Should in Norfolk (2000-2005).

Matt has also toured extensively as a Technical Manager, highlights include, working on a performance in a medieval church at the International theatre festival in Sibiu Romania (2010) that could only be accessed by walking up a 100 steps over half a mile up a steep hill! Touring an aerial performance to the Cactus Festival in Belgium (2011); and finally touring in France with the puppetry company Faulty Optic (2004).

He is also an Associate Artist for Instant Dissidence a dance company based in Leeds and is currently developing a new performance with them which will be premiering in the UK autumn 2012 and then touring internationally in 2013.

When Matt is not working as a designer or touring he works on the Performance Art and Dance courses at Leeds Metropolitan University as the department technical manager. Working with the students he says is quite fun although it can be hard at times when a 150 students have your email address and want something making!

Finally when Matt is not working he enjoys watching the weeds and occasionally the vegetables he has actually planted, grow on the allotment in Leeds he shares with his absent wife, Vienna’s English Theatre’s very own Production Manager, Leann Young.

Having visited Vienna many times this year Matt is very pleased to have another excuse to come back and enjoy this wonderful city and sample its many delightful cakes.