5 ★★★★★
“Max Key’s beautifully orchestrated production” Michael Billington
Max attended Thomas Tallis State School in Kidbrooke, South-East London. His mother was an English teacher, and his father worked as a scenic artist at the Royal Opera House. He went on to study Theatre and Fine Art (Painting) at the University of Brighton, before pursuing a post-graduate degree in Theatre Directing at the Drama Studio London. In 2007, he participated in the National Theatre Directors’ Course, where he studied alongside notable directors such as Lyndsey Turner and Nadia Fall.
Max has been nominated for an Olivier Award and Off-West End Award for ‘It Is Easy To Be Dead’ by Neil McPherson at the Trafalgar Studios, which received a 5***** review from Michael Billington in the Guardian. And an Off-West End Award for Best Direction for ‘The Glass Piano’ by Alix Sobler at the Coronet Theatre, Notting Hill.
Max has been Staff Director at the Royal National Theatre, Royal Opera House and Royal Albert Hall.
Professional Theatre Directing Work include:
It Is Easy To Be Dead by Neil McPherson(Trafalgar Studios/Finborough Theatre, 5*****The Guardian), The Winter’s Tale by William Shakespeare (RADA), The Glass Piano by Alix Sobler, (The Print Room/Coronet Theatre), Year 10 by Simon Vinnicombe (Finborough Theatre, 4*****The Guardian), Mad Forest by Caryl Churchill (Bristol Old Vic Theatre) Up the Royal Borough by Sarah Solemani (Lyric Hammersmith), Mariana Pineda by Frederico Garcia Lorca (Arcola Theatre, 4*****The Sunday Times), Wilde Tales by Oscar Wilde (Southwark Playhouse), The Turn of the Screw & The Rape of Lucretia by Benjamin Britten (Arcola Theatre).
Max has taught and directed over 100 productions at leading drama schools including: RADA, Guildhall, LAMDA, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Drama Centre, Oxford School of Drama and Mountview.
Directing credits include: The Winter’s Tale, Cymbeline, Twelfth Night, The Way of the World, Three Sisters, Summerfolk, The Seagull, Clybourne Park, August Osage County, Scenes from the Big Picture, Jerusalem and The Knowledge.
Max’s short film – Preservation, starring Saskia Reeves, was presented at Palm Springs International Film Festival & BAFTA.
Assistant Directing credits include:
Peter Gill – The Voysey Inheritance (National Theatre), Tim Albery -The Flying Dutchman (Royal Opera House), Tony Harrison – Fram (National Theatre), Sean Holmes – Treasure Island (Royal Haymarket) Franscesca Zambello – La Bohème (Royal Albert Hall) Peter Gill – As Good A Time As Any Tony Harrison and Bob Crowley – Fram (National Theatre).
Max has taught MA Theatre Directing at Mountview with Rebecca Frecknall under the leadership of Peter James for the past 8 years.
Nominated Best Director in 2017 and 2020, Offies
