Welcome to Making Productions
Making Productions was created by actor and writer Darren Murphy to produce bold new writing and existing work in new and exciting ways to engage and entertain audiences. Combining newly discovered talent with experienced collaborators, partner organisations and co producers, the aim is to extend the scope of creativity in the performing arts. Darren is passionate about exploring relevant and current work for education and community organisations for the betterment of all and is unique in this practice by championing Women, BAME and LGBT+ creatives.
Darren is establishing a reputation for producing dynamic, engaging theatre and artistic excellence. Since forming Making Productions in 2014, he has produced the critically acclaimed Shutters (Park Theatre), a triple bill of unique American plays that explored the extraordinary journey of women over the last century. Featuring an all-female ensemble performing both male and female roles. This was followed by the hugely successful Strindberg play – The Father (Trafalgar Studios), Disaster! The Musical (Charing Cross Theatre) Bug (Found111), the 35th anniversary production of Coming Clean, Kevin Elyot’s first stage play (King’s Head Theatre), and Outlaws to In-laws, where he, along with playwright Matt Harris, commissioned seven writers to each write a short play exploring the choices gay men have made within a social history of oppression, violence and hate (King’s Head Theatre). The universally acclaimed and Offie Award winning production of Doubt, A Parable starring Stella Gonet was the first revival of the play in 10 years (Southwark Playhouse). Darren was also part of the producing team behind the King’s Head Theatre West End Season with successful transfers of La Bohème (nominated for an Olivier Award for Best New Opera Production) and Australian play, Strangers in Between (Trafalgar Studios). In 2018 he successfully produced the European premier of The Unbuilt City and the highly critically successful and 4 time Off West End nominated world premiere of Old Fools (Southwark Playhouse). 2018 also saw our opening of some other brand new works with another collaboration with King’s Head Theatre where we produced Hamilton (Lewis) premiering at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and then transferring to King’s Head Theatre. In January 2019 we start the year transferring the successful production of Coming Clean to the West End (Trafalgar Studios).
Darren’s community reach work involved producing West End Bares (2015-2017) on behalf of the Make A Difference Trust, whose goal is to bring the theatre community together to raise funds for their HIV & AIDS research and awareness and related social projects. Old Fools was a collaboration with Alzheimer’s Research UK, engaging with key audiences that share an interest in the themes of the play relating to Alzheimer’s and related diseases.
Currently in development with 2084, a new musical exploring what the world would be like if ‘straight’ people were the minority. Happy Like Us– long listed for the Bruntwood Prize and winner of the ‘And The Band Plays On’ new writing competition at The Greenwich Theatre and Pink Diesel, both new writing projects by Matt Harris.
★★★★ “Making Productions presents an evening of thought-provoking entertainment.” Islington Gazette ★★★★★ “One of theatre’s comedy events of the year - this is one disaster that the West End sorely needs” Musical Theatre Review on Disaster! ★★★★★ “A gloriously funny comedy. I can’t wait for (Another) Disaster! to hit the West End” Stage Review on Disaster! ★★★★ "It feels timely, uncomfortable, and riveting: a worthy revival... Che Walker’s production is often breath-holdingly tense” - Theatre Cat on Doubt ★★★★ "Triumphant revival" The Times on The Father ★★★★ "This strong production, directed by Ché Walker, strips the play back to its basics & is riveting" - The Times on Doubt ★★★★★ “excellent, with all the passion and sensitivity expected of this timeless score” British Theatre on La Boheme ★★★★ "A collection of moving pieces that stir the imagination: magnetic, heart-wrenching" The Upcoming on Shutters ★★★★ "An electric clash of the titans" The Stage on The Father ★★★★ “worthy of a place in your memory” The Independent on Old Fools ★★★★ “A brilliantly entertaining send up of disaster movies.” Everything Theatre on Disaster ★★★★ “An extraordinary set of plays” - Remote Goat on Outlaws to In-laws ★★★★★ “One of my favourite experiences of the year and I laughed til tears!” Theatre Bubble on Disaster ★★★★ “Old Fools is brilliant devastating theatre, marking Bernays out as an outstanding talent amongst his generation.” Jonathan Baz on Old Fools ★★★★ “A powerful, important look at queer history” - Broadway World on Outlaws to In-laws ★★★★ “tender, warm and funny” Gay Times on Strangers In Between ★★★★ "A breathlessly tense production. A timely revival, tautly directed. Recommended." The Independent on Doubt ★★★★ “Outlaws to In-laws is a pure delight. A truly magical theatrical experience. Theatre like this is to be treasured and celebrated.” Boyz Magazine on Outlaws to In-laws ★★★★★ “energising, gallant and joyful – a production which will ruminate with audiences for a long time” West End Wilma on Strangers In Between ★★★★ "Deft, restraining and moving theatre." Time Out on Old Fools
