Mark Melville is an award winning composer and sound designer for theatre, dance and film and trained at Leeds Conservatoire.
His composition and sound design work has been presented throughout the UK and internationally and exhibited at the V&A Museum and the Prague Quadrennial Design Festival.
Mark is also a member of the Association of Sound Designers.
2025
DARWIN, NEVADA – Vanishing Point / Piccolo Theatre, Milan / Emilia Romagna Teatro / Teatro Nazionale / Jolefilm / Teatro Stabile I Bonanza, in colloboration with performer Marco Paolini. Directed by Matthew Lenton.
2024
CONFESSIONS OF A SHINAGAWA MONKEY – Vanishing Point Theatre & Kanagawa Arts Theatre (KAAT), Japan. Written by Matthew Lenton, Sandy Grierson & Nozomi Abe. Based on the short stories of Haruki Murakami. Directed by Matthew Lenton
STEEL – Theatre by the Lake. Written by Lee Mattinson. Directed by Liz Stevenson. ★★★★ – The Stage ‘Beautiful and breath-stopping’
THE FIFTH STEP – National Theatre of Scotland/Edinburgh International Festival. Written by David Ireland. Directed by Finn den Hertog. ★★★★★ – British Theatre Guide. ★★★★ – The Guardian. ★★★★★ – WhatsOnStage. ★★★★★ – The List. ★★★★★ – The Observer.
LOVE THE SINNER – Imogen Stirling/Vanishing Point. Autumn 2024 tour. Directed by Matthew Lenton. ★★★★★ – The Stage. ★★★★★ – The Herald. ★★★★★ “A 70-minute ecstasy of words, sounds, light and brilliant design” – The Scotsman.
R&D – Mind the Gap Theatre
MIDSUMMER – Mercury Theatre. Directed by Ryan McBride. ★★★★★ – British Theatre Guide.
R&D – Theatre by the Lake/Grace Kirby
R&D – Kanagawa Arts Theatre Yokohama, Japan
R&D – National Theatre Studio
R&D – Vox Motus
KIN – Gecko Theatre/National Theatre. Opening premiere at the Lyttleton theatre, January 2024. Directed by Amit Lahav. Now streaming on National Theatre at Home
2023
AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS – Octagon Theatre Directed by Kash Arshad.
ROMEO AND JULIET – Royal Exchange Directed by Nicholai Le Barrie.
KIN – Gecko Theatre (commissioned by the National Theatre) Autumn preview Tour. Directed by Amit Lahav.
EVERY BRILLIANT THING – Theatre by the Lake. Directed by Liz Stevenson.
NEST – M6 Theatre. Directed by Gilly Baskeyfield.
LOVE THE SINNER – Imogen Stirling/Vanishing Point. Directed by Matthew Lenton. ★★★★★ – The Stage. ★★★★★ – The Herald. ★★★★★ “A 70-minute ecstasy of words, sounds, light and brilliant design” – The Scotsman.
THEY DON’T PAY? WE WON’T PAY! – Mercury Theatre. Directed by Ryan McBride. ★★★★★ – The Stage.
KIN – Gecko Theatre (commissioned by the National Theatre) Spring preview Tour. Directed by Amit Lahav.
2022
THE SNOW QUEEN – Storyhouse. Directed by Hannah Noone.
KIN – Gecko Theatre (commissioned by the National Theatre) Preview Tour. Directed by Amit Lahav.
EXODUS – National Theatre of Scotland. Directed by Debbie Hannan
UNTITLED NEW PROJECT: Kanagawa Arts Theatre (KAAAT), Yokohama, Japan & Vanishing Point Theatre. Directed by Matthew Lenton
NEW SHOW DEVELOPMENT – Gecko Theatre (commissioned by the National Theatre). Directed by Amit Lahav.
THE METAMORPHOSIS – (Scottish Tour). International co-production with Vanishing Point, Tron Theatre and Emilia Romagna Teatro, Italy. Directed by Matthew Lenton. ★★★★★ The Scotsman ‘Superb and haunting lighting and sound by Simon Wilkinson and Mark Melville complete the impact of this consummate piece of theatrical poetry’ ★★★★★ The Stage ‘The design is perfect, from Mark Melville’s cold but searingly emotive electronic score’ ★★★★★ The Times ‘Much of the show’s power is purely visceral, with Simon Wilkinson’s woozy lighting coming together with the insinuating sound design, composed by Mark Melville, to create a vision that is unnerving without ever feeling strained’
FLIGHT – Vox Motus. Directed by Jamie Harrison Candice Edmunds. The Studio Theatre, Washington DC. December 2021 to March 2022. “Profoundly imaginative… unforgettable in both content and form” – The New Yorker. “A deeply important and innovative work” – The Stage. “Mark Melville’s pulsating, swelling score elevates the experience, as does his crisp sound design” – The Washington Post “Strange, exquisite and intensely affecting” – The New York Times
HAPPY MEAL (Vaults Festival) – Directed by Matt Harrison.
PEBBLE ON THE BEACH (UK spring tour) – M6 Theatre. Directed by Gilly Baskeyfield.
FOX AND BADGER (podcast series) – Ragged Edge Productions. Directed by Stefan Escreet.
2021
THE METAMORPHOSIS – Presented at Teatro Bonci, Italy. International co-production with Vanishing Point, Tron Theatre and Emilia Romagna Teatro, Italy. Directed by Matthew Lenton.
AUDIO BOOK R&D – Paul Tinto. Directed by Debbie Hannan
NEW SHOOTS: LIFE AFTER LOCKDOWN (exhibition) – Theatre by the Lake . Directed by Louie Whitemore.
WELCOME TO BYKER – Northern Stage. Directed by Louie Ingham. (CANCELLED THROUGH COVID)
NEW SHOW DEVELOPMENT – Gecko Theatre (commissioned by the National Theatre). Directed by Amit Lahav.
FLIGHT – Vox Motus. Directed by Jamie Harrison Candice Edmunds. Co-presented by The Barbican & The Bridge Theatre, London. May 2021.
GREATEST PLAY IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD… (UK Tour) – Tara Finney Productions. With Julie Hesmondhalgh. Directed by Raz Shaw. ★★★★ “If you get the chance to see, seize it” – The Observer
ASSEMBLE HERE (audio dramas)- Theatre by the Lake. Directed by Fay Lomas and Taio Lawson.
PEBBLE ON THE BEACH – M6 Theatre. Directed by Gilly Baskeyfield.
THREE LOUD KNOCKS (Short Films) – Beggars Belief Collective. Directed by James Arden.
DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS (Short Films) – Theatre Uncut. Directed by Emma Callander and Nina Ross.
2020
TOOLS FOR CHANGE (Short Films) – Theatre Uncut/Traverse Theatre. Directed by Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan, Daisy Ifama, Gbolahan Obisesan, Emma Callander.
BYKER AUDIO STORIES – Northern Stage. Directed by Louie Ingham.
WHEN THE WORLD IS LOUD – Mortal Fools. An interactive audio experience on Apple podcasts, Spotify and Podbean.
KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON – Ragged Edge Productions. Directed by Stefan Escreet. (Remotely recorded radio adaptation)
THE KNOCK (film) – BFI. Directed by Curtis Cole.
THE METAMORPHOSIS – International co-production with Vanishing Point, Tron Theatre and Emilia Romagna Teatro, Italy. Directed by Matthew Lenton. UK TOUR POSTPONED THROUGH COVID-19
WHERE DO WE GO NOW? – Northern Stage. Directed by Louie Ingham. CANCELLED THROUGH COVID-19
A LITTLE SPACE – Gecko Theatre/Mind The Gap. Directed by Dan Watson, Rich Rusk (Gecko), and Charli Ward, Karen Bartholomew (Mind The Gap). TOUR POSTPONED THROUGH COVID-19
FLIGHT –Tempe Centre for the Arts, Arizona, US, as part of Beyond Festival – Vox Motus/Edinburgh International Festival. Directed by Jamie Harrison and Candice Edmunds.
THE STORM – M6 Theatre. Directed by Caroline Kennedy. POSTPONED THROUGH COVID-19
WILT – Theatre by the Lake. Directed by Liz Stevenson. CANCELLED THROUGH COVID-19
DROWN YOUR EMPTY SELVES – Theatre by the Lake. Directed by Kash Arshad. CANCELLED THROUGH COVID-19
2019
THE GREATEST PLAY IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD (West End Transfer) – Tara Finney Productions. With Julie Hesmondhalgh. Directed by Raz Shaw.
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE – Directed by Abigail Anderson. Remounted version for Chung Ma Art Theatre, Seoul, South Korea.
LITTLE GIFT – M6 Theatre/The Lowry Theatre. Directed by Andy Manley. Puppets by Shona Reppe. Touring to Tramshed, London.
1984 – Emilia Romagna Teatro Fondazione. Directed by Matthew Lenton. Re-mounted Italian tour.
THE PANOPTICON – National Theatre of Scotland. Directed by Debbie Hannan.
FLIGHT -Transfer to NYUAD Arts Centre, Abu Dhabi – Vox Motus/Edinburgh International Festival. Directed by Jamie Harrison and Candice Edmunds.
GUARDS AT THE TAJ – Theatre by the Lake. Directed by Kash Arshad. ‘…subtle and intangible, or strident and evocative, much like Mark Melville’s clever and haunting sound design‘ – British Theatre Guide review. ‘Mark Melville’s composition and sound give a strong sense of the immense stakes being played for, and drives the play’s sudden shifts of tone’ – The Stage review
THE CHILDREN – Theatre by the Lake. Directed by Stefan Escreet ★★★★ – The Stage ‘…driven by Mark Melville’s eerily powerful sound design‘
FLIGHT -Transfer to Brighton Festival – Vox Motus/Edinburgh International Festival. Directed by Jamie Harrison and Candice Edmunds.
WHERE DO WE BELONG? – Northern Stage. Directed by Louie Ingham.
2018
LITTLE GIFT – M6 Theatre/The Lowry Theatre. Directed by Andy Manley. Puppets by Shona Reppe.
1984 – Emilia Romagna Teatro Fondazione. Directed by Matthew Lenton – Autumn tour: Teatro Palamostre, Udine. Teatro Bonci, Cesena. Teatro Bellini, Napoli.
FLIGHT -Transfer to Melbourne International Arts Festival (October, 2018). Vox Motus/Edinburgh International Festival. Directed by Jamie Harrison and Candice Edmunds
ROAD – Leeds Playhouse. Directed by Amy Leach
THE GREATEST PLAY IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD (part of the festival programme at The Traverse Theatre)– Tara Finney Productions. With Julie Hesmonhalgh. Directed by Raz Shaw
GREAT EXHIBITION OF THE NORTH – Northern Stage. Directed by Louie Ingham
FLIGHT -Transfer to Galway International Arts Festival. Vox Motus/Edinburgh International Festival. Directed by Jamie Harrison and Candice Edmunds
OUT THERE (silent disco audio walk) – Mortal Fools. Produced by Helen Ferguson
THE MANCHESTER PROJECT – Monkeywood Theatre/HOME/River Stage, National Theatre. Directed by Martin Gibbons
1984 – Emilia Romagna Teatro Fondazione. Directed by Matthew Lenton
WHERE DO WE STAND? – Northern Stage. Directed by Louie Ingham
FRANKENSTEIN – Royal Exchange Theatre. Directed by Matthew Xia
FLIGHT -Transfer to The McKittrick, New York. Vox Motus/Edinburgh International Festival. Directed by Jamie Harrison and Candice Edmunds
2017 & beyond
THE GREATEST PLAY IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD – Royal Exchange Theatre. With Julie Hesmonhalgh. Directed by Raz Shaw
RULES FOR LIVING – English Touring Theatre. Directed by Simon Godwin
FLIGHT – Vox Motus/Edinburgh International Festival. Directed by Jamie Harrison and Candice Edmunds
BIRTH – (Remounted for the Edinburgh Festival at the Traverse Theatre). Directed by Emma Callander
CHARLIE SONATA – Edinburgh Royal Lyceum. Directed by Matthew Lenton
PINOCCHIO – The Dukes Theatre. Directed by Louie Ingham
BIRTH – Royal Exchange Theatre. Directed by Emma Callander
THE DESTROYED ROOM – Vanishing Point/Battersea Arts Centre/Edinburgh International Festival. Directed by Matthew Lenton
HUMAN ANIMALS – Royal Court. Directed by Hamish Pirie
SUPER SLOW WAY AUDIO INSTALLATION – Sound and Motion. Directed by Louie Ingham & Mark Melville. Listen on soundcloud here
RECOMMISSIONED – Lancaster City Museum/Light Up Lancaster/Sound and Motion. Directed by Louie Ingham. Further details here
POINT TO POINT – Lakes Culture. Directed by Louie Ingham & Mark Melville. Listen on soundcloud here
THE OCKERBYS ON ICE – The Dukes Theatre. Directed by Joe Sumsion
THE CRUCIBLE – The Dukes Theatre. Directed by Louie Ingham
WIT – Royal Exchange Theatre. Directed by Raz Shaw. Winner of UK Theatre Award and MTA Award
A TENDER THING – The Dukes Theatre. Directed by Louie Ingham
VIOLENCE AND SON – Royal Court. Directed by Hamish Pirie Nominated for Olivier Award 2016 ‘Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate’
YER GRANNY – National Theatre of Scotland. Directed by Graham McLaren.
GOD BLESS THE CHILD – Royal Court. Directed by Vicky Featherstone.
TOMORROW – Vanishing Point/Cena Contemporânea Festival (Brasilia), Tramway (Glasgow), Brighton Festival, Tramway (Glasgow), National Theatre Studio (London). Directed by Matthew Lenton.
THE BEAUTIFUL COSMOS OF IVOR CUTLER – Vanishing Point and the National Theatre of Scotland. Winner of the 2014 CATS Award for Best Music and Sound. Directed by Matthew Lenton.
YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS YOU (BUT I DON’T NEED MY COUNTRY) Directed and conceived by Louie Ingham for The Dukes Theatre
DRAGON – (National Theatre of Scotland/Vox Motus/Tianjin People’s Art Theatre, China) Directed by Jamie Harrison & Candice Edmunds. Winner of the 2014 CATS Award for Best Technical Presentation.
SWALLOWS & AMAZONS (Theatre by the Lake) Directed by Stefan Escreet.
MISTER HOLGADO (The Unicorn Theatre) Directed by Matthew Lenton. Winner of 2013’s TMA Award for Best Show for Children and Young People.
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (Two Bit Classics) Directed by Abigail Anderson.
IN A DEEP DARK WOOD (Gobbledegook/Moko Dance/Sadlers Wells) Directed by Frauke Franz.
MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (Edinburgh Royal Lyceum) Directed by Matthew Lenton.
MY SHRINKING LIFE (National Theatre of Scotland) Directed by Lies Pauwels.
WONDERLAND (Vanishing Point/Edinburgh International Festival/Napoli Teatro Festival) Directed by Matthew Lenton.
MWANA (Ankur/The Tron Theatre) Directed by Shabina Aslam.
SATURDAY NIGHT (Vanishing Point/National Theatre of Portugal) Directed by Matthew Lenton.
KNIVES IN HENS (National Theatre of Scotland) Directed by Lies Pauwels.
MIRACLE MAN (National Theatre of Scotland) Directed by Vicky Featherstone.
EMPTY (National Theatre of Scotland) Directed by Vicky Featherstone.
GRIMM TALES (Theatre by the Lake) Directed by Stefan Escreet.
THE BEGGAR’S OPERA (Vanishing Point/Edinburgh Royal Lyceum/ Belgrade Theatre Coventry) Directed by Matthew Lenton.
PIERREPOINT (The Dukes Playhouse) Directed by Kevin Dyer.
HAMLET (The Dukes Playhouse) Directed by Louie Ingham.
ROBIN HOOD (The Dukes Playhouse) Directed by Joe Sumsion.
THE UNSOCIABLES (The Dukes Playhouse) Directed by Louie Ingham.