Synopsis

George Meredith, in an attic room in the nineteenth century, prepares himself to model for painting "The Death of Chatterton", and wonders at how the death occurred.

Chatterton himself tells the tale from the seventeen hundreds - and Rowley (a fifteenth century monk of Chatterton’s creation) convinces us of Chatterton’s genius back two hundred years before.

The key however, lies not with Meredith, Rowley nor Chatterton but with Chatterton’s first biographer, John Dix - who delights in revealing a final convolution. Who is Thomas Chatterton? - and when did he die?


Biography

Matthew Dewey is a Tasmanian born composer and singer. In addition to commissions received for the concert music platform and for film (In a Pig's Eye (2008)), he has written extensively for the theatre; including three chamber operas "A Priest’s Passion" (2004), "The Death of Chatterton" (2005) and "15 Years on Hold" (2007); and numerous incidental scores for a range of theatrical situations - from experimental pieces ("underwhere" (2007)) and new plays ("Con Artists" (2007)) by living playwrights, to works by Shakespeare ("Macbeth" (2005) & "Troilus and Cressida" (2007)).

Matthew’s compositions have been commissioned and performed by groups and companies including: The New York Miniaturist Ensemble (USA), Contemporanes ensamble de guitarras de Monterrey (Mexico), IHOS Music Theatre laboratory, the Seymour Group (Sydney), the Sydney Children’s Choir, Hobart Chamber Orchestra, Hutchins String Quartet, Backgammon Baroque, Terrapin Puppet Theatre and by musicians including Jean Louis Forestier (Conductor), William Lane (Violist and Artistic Director of ¿grenzenlos?), Joshua Rubin (Clarinetist - International Contemporary Music Ensemble), Harry Spaarnay (Bass Clarinet), Brooke Green (Viola da Gamba), Michael Kieren Harvey (Pianist), Sarah Jones (Soprano), Michael Lampard (Baritone), Christopher Richardson (Baritone), Karen Smithies (Pianist) and Ben van Tienen (Pianist and Choral Conductor).

Matthew Dewey's website