How Olivier-Winning Director Matthew Xia Stages a Play

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Olivier Award–winning director Matthew Xia reveals how professional theatre directors actually stage a play, from first read to final performance. In this practical directing breakdown, Matthew shares his process for building world, story, and character, creating clear playable intentions, staging scenes so every audience member can see and understand them, and designing transitions that keep momentum alive.

Drawing on productions at the Donmar Warehouse, Actors Touring Company, and Royal Exchange Theatre, including Skeleton Crew, Tambo & Bones, and the Olivier-winning Hey Duggee: The Live Theatre Show, this episode is essential viewing for emerging theatre directors who want to direct with clarity, confidence, and professional-level craft. If you want to learn how Olivier Award winning directors think in rehearsal, avoid common blocking mistakes, and stage plays that truly work, this episode is for you.

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In this episode, Olivier Award–winning director Matthew Xia breaks down how to stage a play with clarity, strong storytelling, and professional-level direction.

CHAPTERS:
0:00 Why Great Acting Can’t Save Bad Direction
1:10 The 3 Things You Must Know Before Rehearsals
2:45 Why Most Directors Start in the Wrong Place
4:00 World, Story, Character (The Real Foundations)
6:10 How to Build the World (Research Directors Skip)
8:30 Scene Titles That Instantly Clarify Story
10:45 Why Super Objectives Often Don’t Work
12:20 Playable Intentions Actors Can Actually Use
14:10 The Director as the First Audience Member
15:40 The Blocking Mistake That Ruins Great Plays
17:10 Why Transitions Reveal Bad Directing
18:40 How to Design Transitions That Keep Audiences In
20:30 A Donmar Example: Staging Skeleton Crew
22:40 Keeping the Audience Thinking “What Happens Next?”
24:10 The Hardest Play Matthew Xia Ever Directed
26:00 Breaking the Line Between Actor and Character
27:30 What Most Young Directors Get Wrong
29:00 The One Word Every Director Should Aim For: Clarity

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