KABEL | Kel Matsena
Kel is a Zimbabwean/Welsh BAFTA-winning director, movement director, writer and actor. His great understanding of movement heavily influences his form of storytelling. His unique approach to film and theatre-making has placed him at the heart of an upcoming generation of Welsh artists. Kel is also a Co-Artistic Director of award-winning company ‘Matsena Productions’.
He recently movement directed the Off-Broadway transfer of ‘The Hunt’ working with stars like Tobias Menzies and Myanna Buring. He worked with Ffilm Cymru and BBC to develop his most recent short film for the Beacons Development award. He also worked with National Theatre Wales to direct an adaptation of Kafka’s ‘The Trial’ which premiered in Swansea in 2023.
Previous directing works include, ‘Are You Numb Yet’ which won the 'International Infallible Award' for 'Best Show' of the digital Edinburgh Fringe Festival. ‘Too Much, Too Little’ which won the Breakin’ Convention 24-hour short film challenge. Feature Film ‘Error Code 8:46’ was placed on the list of the 2021 One Dance UK Awards.
One of Kel’s most recent creations with Matsena Productions is ‘Shades of Blue’ a theatre piece he wrote, choreographed and directed alongside Anthony Matsena for BBC and Sadler’s Wells’ Dancing Nation. Shades of Blue received raving reviews from the New York Times and The Guardian for its direction, text and movement, returning to Sadler’s Wells in May 2022 only to receive more critical acclaim in sold-out performances across Ipswich, London and Cardiff.
As a writer he has written work for Sadler’s Wells, National Dance Company of Wales, the Bunker Theatre, BBCWales and National Theatre Wales.
As an actor, he’s recently been cast in Dear England (National Theatre and West End) and Pericles (RSC), Channel 4/S4C’s ‘The Light in the Hall’, feature film ‘Mad Heidi’ and ‘GALWAD’ for SkyTv. He’s also appeared on BBC Doctors and was part of the UK/US Tour cast of ‘A Monster Calls’.
Image: KABEL project image (Kel Matsena, Group 11). Photographed by Laurentina Miksys
