Directing Julius Caesar with Wordsmyth Theatre

David Matheson is a Toronto based actor, director, and teacher. He began his training with a BA from Acadia University and later attended the prestigious London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts in England.

David spent the early part of his career as an actor in the Maritimes. Acting work included roles with the Neptune Theatre, Theatre New Brunswick, The Atlantic Theatre Festival, the Chester Playhouse as well as with numerous independent theatre companies. Film and television work includes Cold Blood, Breakout, Black Harbour, Lexx:The dark Zone, Terra X, and The Prince and the Grail.

He founded Exodus Theatre in Nova Scotia in 1999, and began to direct. His first project was a four person Julius Caesar in which he adapted, directed and played the part of Brutus. The response of audience and critics in the Halifax theatre scene was enthusiastic. Exodus produced 8 shows under David's tenure as Artistic Director including Julius Caesar, Tales Rare and Grim, Rae and Luke, Jeanine, Homage, Richard II, Rex, and The Duchess of Malfi.

David relocated to Toronto in 2002 and received a Master of Fine Arts (Directing) from York University. At York he directed a number of projects including Measure for Measure, Troilus and Cressida, Henry V, Richard II, Offending the Audience, The Gertrude Stein Project, and his thesis project, The Seagull, by Anton Chekhov.

It was at York that David began to teach. In 2003 and 2004 he was a studio instructor for York's first year acting course. He was invited to stay on after his graduation as a teaching assistant and has continued as course director for the second year Creative Ensemble course. Other teaching experience includes two years as at the Toronto Film School teaching acting for the camera.

In 2005 he founded Wordsmyth Theatre. David brought his adaptation of Julius Caesar to Toronto with a new cast in 2006 and in 2007 directed the company in The Seagull (see pictures in Recent Work). In the summer of 2007 he appeared in the Summerworks festival in Robert Fothergill's Disciples, directed by Mark Wilson. In June of 2008 David directed Pericles Snowdons's Bluebeard for the Toronto Fringe Festival, a production that was awarded Patron's Pick. In August of 2008 he directed Tennessee Williams A Streetcar Named Desire for Upper Canada Repertory Company. In the summer of 2009, the production was remounted in Clarksburg, Ontario.

In the Spring of 2008, David began to teach acting classes out of the Fraser Studios. The past few years have seen his classes grow in popularity and he is becoming one of the most sought after acting coaches in the city. Please take a look at Classes and Coaching for more information.

Seneca College has started a new program: Acting for the Camera and Voice, and they have invited David to join the faculty! It is a very exciting and unique program. They completed their inaugeral term in the fall of 2009 and David continues to teach Acting for the Camera. The classes are in the Markham campus at the moment but in September the program is transfering to the Seneca at York campus.

David continues to act, direct, teach and coach in Toronto. Please check out Recent Works for up to date information.

Bosola in The Duchess of Malfi