Matthew Kereama (Ngãti Manomano) is the 2024 New Zealand Opera Friedlander Foundation Associate Artist. A rising star in the theatre world of Tāmaki Makaurau, over the past decade Matthew has worked as both a performer and stage director for numerous works, and over this time has also written and produced four theatre productions.
Matthew studied at the University of Auckland, where he attained a Bachelor of Music degree with honours (majored in classical performance and with a particular focus on the direction of opera). Since then, he has held assistant director roles with New Zealand Opera, Wellington Opera, Te Rehia Theatre Company and Auckland Theatre Company – including serving as assistant and resident director for the latter’s North by Northwest, under director Simon Phillips.
Matthew has held a number of other roles with New Zealand Opera, including writing for the 6:24 Voices of Aotearoa project and performing as a member of the ensemble for The Unruly Tourists. Recently, he was assistant director for New Zealand Opera’s touring production of Così fan tutte, directed by Lindy Hume, and our 2024 season of Mansfield Park, directed by Rebecca Meltzer.