Making Productions, founded in 2014 by Darren Murphy, has established itself as a bold and innovative production company, delivering dynamic new writing and fresh interpretations of existing works to engage and entertain audiences. Combining emerging talent with seasoned collaborators, partner organizations, and other producers, the company extends the scope of creativity in the performing arts while championing diversity, inclusivity, and sustainability. Making Productions is committed to supporting women, Global Majority, and LGBTQ+ creatives, ensuring their voices are amplified both on stage and screen.

The company is also deeply passionate about creating relevant, impactful work for education and community organisations, aiming to foster connection and meaningful change through the arts. Its community work includes producing three seasons of West End Bares for the Make A Difference Trust, supporting HIV/AIDS research and awareness, and partnering with Alzheimer’s Research UK on Old Fools, a project engaging audiences with specialist interests in Alzheimer’s and related diseases.

Making Productions has built a reputation for artistic excellence across theatre and film. Its foray into filmmaking began with Blueberry Smoothie (2023), Darren’s debut as writer, producer, director, and lead actor. The short won multiple awards and served as a launchpad for further projects, including the co-written feature Gaia (in pre-production), Glitched(post-production), Simmer, and Shift. Additional feature films in development include Happy Camper, Demonic, Joan, and Earth. For television, the company is developing Glitched, AGAYA (working title), and CYT (working title).

In theatre, Making Productions has delivered critically acclaimed works that span classic revivals, innovative premieres, and bold adaptations. Early successes include Shutters (Park Theatre), a triple bill exploring the journey of women over a century, performed by an all-female ensemble in male and female roles, and The Father (Trafalgar Studios), a reimagined Strindberg classic. Productions such as Disaster! The Musical (Charing Cross Theatre), Tracy Letts’ Bug (Found111), and Coming Clean by Kevin Elyot (King’s Head Theatre, later transferring to Trafalgar Studios) showcased the company’s ability to engage diverse audiences.

Making Productions also commissioned Outlaws to In-laws (King’s Head Theatre), an anthology of short plays by seven leading gay writers, exploring the choices of gay men throughout history. The production was later adapted into a short film. Further collaborations with the King’s Head Theatre included Olivier-nominated La Bohème (Trafalgar Studios) and Strangers in Between.

In 2018, Making Productions delivered standout productions including the European premiere of The Unbuilt City and the world premiere of Tristan Bernays’ Old Fools (Southwark Playhouse), which received Off West End Award nominations. The hit parody Hamilton (Lewis) premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival before transferring to the King’s Head Theatre.

2019 continued this momentum with Coming Clean transferring to Trafalgar Studios, followed by Southern Belles—a pairing of Tennessee Williams’ groundbreaking one-act plays—and Jerker, a queer elegy staged in its first full-length run.

As part of the King’s Head Theatre’s 50th Anniversary season, Coming Clean returned due to popular demand, alongside the revolutionary Opera Undone: Tosca & La Bohème, a Puccini double-bill radically distilled and sung in English, designed to captivate new generations of opera-goers.

Post-pandemic, Making Productions returned with the critically acclaimed, sold-out Diary of a Somebody (Seven Dials Playhouse), which received a 5-star review in The Guardian. In collaboration with the King’s Head Theatre, they produced their third adaptation of La Bohème, directed by Mark Ravenhill.

Through an ever-expanding portfolio in both theatre and film, Making Productions continues to push artistic boundaries, engage audiences in meaningful ways, and amplify underrepresented voices.