Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Matthew James Thomas. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Matthew James , thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I’ve had the pleasure of leading many very physically and mentally demanding roles on stage and film. Even at 37 I’m throwing my body about. Currently as Harry in Harry Potter and the cursed child on Broadway. In the same theatre I played in Julie Taymor’s adaption of Spiderman as Peter Parker 15 years ago. For all of the controversy surrounding that production (“Spiderman- Turn off the dark) I personally wouldn’t have had it any other way. The whole thing was as if in some historic greek mythic cataclysm… And as far as life experiences go and what excited me as an artist – it’s hard to imagine what could measure to that kind of intensity in an artistic journey. Of course it was full of danger and difficult tormenting moments … but I was on the field with these truly visionary artists passionately dedicated to something bigger than them – .watching them work and being a part of a process like that is really all I care about and still what I aim myself at. Otherwise, what’s the point.

After that I went on to do Pippin. A version of which I would have never been able to achieve without the conditioning of Spiderman… Pippin was another life altering event.. I live to bring these roles to life. And to do so in a way that hopefully inspires audiences. But the genesis and process that creates these special moments – these ambitious shows – just simply doesn’t happen all that often. When it does – it’s a sort of miracle. It’s hard to believe when it comes about.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m an Actor, Director, Producer working in television, film and Theatre. I grew up in a family of theatre makers. My mother was a dancer and ran the local theatre company and school, which I attended in my younger years. My father is a musician and also ran the school. It was fairly inevitable I would have ended up in this business. I worked in many television shows as a young kid and then some major films around the age of 11 (Simon in Billy Eliot, and one of the main bullies in the About a boy film). After this I went on to play the title character in Stephen Poliakoff’s ‘The Lost Prince’ which was very well received. It was a huge privilege and learning experience at the age of 14 to work with some of the best British actors around: Michael Gambon, Miranda Richardson, Tom Hollander, Bill Nighy just to name a few. From there I had a completely different sense of the various disciplines and skill sets of film and acting. I owe a lot of my drive and respect to the craft to Stephen Poliakoff. He is equal parts serious and play, extremely intelligent, passionate and devoted to the work. It set an extremely high bar at a young age for the work I’ve done and hope still to do. I found myself chasing experiences that measured that intensity, grit and meaningfulness. In my later teens and early 20s I went on to lead in Television shows in the UK. I also found some success producing and composing music. And also directing. A turn I definitely didn’t expect was when I was relocated to the US to perform in Julie Taymor’s ‘Spider-man: Turn off the dark’ as Peter Parker in the original company. It was a colossal production in terms of musical theatre with an abnormal budget of 85 million dollars. I had the responsibility of playing one of most famous comic book characters in the world. And – Singing music by one the world’s best Rock Bands “U2”. It was a bizarre and completely thrilling experience that us still hard to comprehend… To be making music with Bono and the Edge… Exchanging lyric ideas for the plot of the show with a band I had grown up admiring and listening to on repeat. Totally nuts… 2 and a half years later I had the huge honour of developing the role of ‘Pippin’ in the multiple Tony award-winning musical ‘Pippin’ in 2013 by Bob Fosse and Stephen Schwartz, directed by Diane Paulus. Since then I have continued in developmental theatre projects, performed in concerts all over the world including the Hollywood Bowl, have developed multiple projects for film and television and continued to work on and off stage and screen including: NCIS: New Orleans, The Summer of Rockets (also by Director Stephen Poliakoff), Accused from ’24’ Creator ‘Howard Gordon’ and Writer/Showrunner Daniel Pearle. I am currently playing the title role of ‘Harry’ in ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ at the lyric theatre on Broadway. (formally the Foxwoods theatre – The very same theatre I played in 15 years ago when I moved to the US to play Spider-man)

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I’ve seen so many impossible things become a reality in this business. I’ve done things, learned and unlearned things, and achieved things I didn’t think would have ever been remotely possible. The “next show” is always an opportunity to apply all that stuff but also throw it all away. I think it was Uta Hagen who talked about “the static condition.” The notion that any one interpretation, idea or approach can get you stuck. It’s like doing 8 shows a week of a show… A show you have perhaps been doing a year long… so 400 or so times… People ask “don’t you get bored” And the answer is not in the least – quite the opposite… Sure you get tired… The body seizes up and asks of your mind to do the same. However, at that point if you persevere – around that next corner is some discovery, the gift of someone else’s performance you weren’t expecting, or the words taking on some new meaning that seem to be truer than anything you’ve said on the stage or set. For me, theatre and performance in any medium is just so often the best of what humanity has to offer. When everyone is in it together, working for this much bigger thing… It’s just the greatest joy of this industry. It takes a lot of courage and uncomfortability to arrive there. But with the right group of people… Otherworldly things are possible. And that to me is a life worth living. As a Director and Producer, I find it all to be much the same thing. Surrounding yourself with people more talented and intelligent than you are, and creating the safest and most fertile environment for discovery… I think it’s a lot about understanding people, what they need to do the best work, understanding the best function of each department… jumping in there with them and sacrificing as much as great artists always are willing to do.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I struggle with social media. It feels like a knot I can’t unwind. I really think it has brought the worst out in people and the world. Its algorithmic intelligence is getting better too. I am sort of on it. Because I feel, as do many, that I don’t have a choice. I wish I didn’t have to be so I try to limit my use.. However, that probably hurts me in the grand scheme of things… I wish we could come together, see it for what it is.. And throw it where it belongs. That said. It doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere anytime soon. so yeah, The matrix is a documentary.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mattjamesthomas.com

Image Credits

Ruth Crafer