THE HOME OF THOUGHT-PROVOKING CREATIVITY
Who We Are
Matsena Productions was founded by Welsh-Zimbabwean brothers Anthony and Kel Matsena as a response to the lack of representation they were seeing in schools, on stage and screen.
The company tells untold stories through the creation and performance of movement-based, multi-disciplinary work inspired by Anthony and Kel’s upbringing rooted in traditional African dancing and a background in different styles of hip-hop and krump, merging contemporary movements together.
They recently won a BAFTA-Cymru for their documentary "Brothers in Dance: Anthony and Kel Matsena" and their live work has gained national and international attention.
The critically acclaimed performance Shades of Blue - exploring the haunting ripples of the Black Lives Matter movement - was dubbed one of The Guardian’s Best Dance for 2022. They work together and individually with numerous creative organisations including Sadler’s Wells, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, The Place, DanceEast, Messums, Taliesin Arts Centre and National Theatre Wales. Matsena Productions were recently nominated for ‘Best Independent Company’ at the 2023 National Dance Awards.
Co-Artistic Director
Anthony Matsena
Anthony is a BAFTA-winning Zimbabwean-born, Welsh-raised director, writer, performer, and choreographer. He co-founded Matsena Productions in 2017 with his brother to explore themes of race, culture, and belonging.
A Sadler’s Wells Young Associate in 2018, he has since worked with major organisations including the RSC, BBC, and La Biennale di Venezia. Recent highlights include directing Kabel and Shades of Blue at Sadler’s Wells and premiering his first feature film Error Code 8:46. He holds a lifetime fellowship at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and chairs the Diversity and Inclusion board at National Youth Dance Wales.
Co-Artistic Director
Kel Matsena
Kel is a BAFTA-winning Zimbabwean-born, Welsh-raised actor, director, and co-artistic director of Matsena Productions. He recently starred in the RSC’s acclaimed Hamlet and the Olivier Award-winning Dear England at the National Theatre. His screen work includes the BAFTA-winning BBC documentary Brothers in Dance, GALWAD for Sky Arts, and The Light in the Hall for Channel 4 and S4C.
As a choreographer and director, Kel has created several award-winning works including KABEL at Sadler’s Wells, Shades of Blue, named one of The Guardian’s best dance works and praised by The New York Times, and The Herds for La Biennale di Venezia. His short film Are You Numb Yet won Best Show at the digital Edinburgh Fringe, and his feature Error Code 8:46 was recognised at the One Dance UK Awards. He has also served as a movement director for the RSC and on international productions Off-Broadway.
Co-Artistic Director
Arnold Matsena
Arnold is a Zimbabwean-born, Welsh-raised creative director with over 15 years of experience in performance, film, and community arts. He co-created the award-winning short film Are You Numb Yet, featured at the digital Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and appeared on BBC’s Dance Nation with Matsena Productions.
His work began with local councils in South Wales, producing performances and workshops that celebrated culture and community. He was named National Performer of the Year at the 2019 National Black History Awards and reached the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent as part of the A3 dance trio.
Committed to inclusion, he has worked with Race Council Cymru, leading weekly arts sessions for refugee and asylum-seeking children. His work focuses on bridging cultures and bringing the arts to underrepresented communities across Wales and the UK.
Executive Producer
Tim Wood
Tim is a management and communications consultant with over 20 years’ experience working with arts and cultural organisations. He has worked extensively in dance, with clients including Corey Baker Dance, DanceEast, Hofesh Shechter Company, James Wilton Dance and The Place. He is a former Chair of the Arts Marketing Association and Deputy Chief Executive of Rambert.
Assistant Producer
Marita Anastasi
Marita (she/her) is a Cyprus-raised, London-based dance artist working across choreography, performance, writing, and producing. Alongside her artistic practice, she supports herself through work in the hospitality sector, like many fellow creatives in London.
She holds a double BA in History and Dance from American University (Washington DC), an MA in Contemporary Dance from London Contemporary Dance School, and a Graduate Diploma in Law. Marita has worked with organisations including Dance House Lemesos, Dance House Lefkosia, Buffer Fringe Festival, The Place, and Inklingroom as a choreographer, performer, and production assistant.
As an immigrant from a formerly colonised island with limited arts infrastructure, she is committed to uplifting artists from similar backgrounds. Long-term, she aims to use her combined experience in dance and law to help reshape policy and funding for the arts.
Producer
Molly Jones
Molly currently supports the development of choreographers Alethia Antonia, Anthony Matsena and Kel Matsena, producing and touring new works including KABEL, Shades of Blue, Inscribed in “Me” and Sis?.
At Sadler’s Wells she mounted and internationally toured pieces such as Message in a Bottle (Kate Prince/Sting) and Neighbours (Brigel Gjoka/Rauf Yasit), working with incredible choreographers such as Vicki Igbokwe-Ozoagu and Jade Hackett to create work for new venue, Sadler’s Wells East.
Previous producer and programmer for ZOO Venues, Molly champions contemporary work from around the globe that is unexpected, funny, and bold. Her early festival work includes Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Nozstock, the Hidden Valley and Newcastle Fringe (Australia). Brought into dance by the essential creative youth work of 2Faced Dance Company in Herefordshire, she is a big fan of Czech dance, underground music and her cats.