Matthew Solon
Regretfully, no biographical information - please email if you can help. Meanwhile here are some notes about some of Matthew's plays. He has collaborated on a number of occasions with John Dryden (q.v.) of Goldhawk Productions.
17 Dec 2015: Greek Drama
By Matthew Solon, dir. John Dryden (Indie, Goldhawk). A docu-drama based on Matthew Solon's research into the Greek debt crisis and bail-out of summer 2014. As Greece and its creditors argued over terms, decisions were thrashed out in secret, behind closed doors. This is the inside story. Alexis Tsipras: George Georgio, Yanis Varoufakis: Pano Masti, Jeroen Dijsselbloem: Tice Oakfield, Angela Merkel: Gabrielle Schamitzky, Wolfgang Schauble: Eric Redman, George Chouliarakis: Christopher Sciueref, Illias Kartalis: John Ioannou. Producer: Emma Hearn.
RECENT EVENTS AT COLLINGTON HOUSE....2014
This drama, by Matthew Solon (R4, 1415, 7 Aug 14) was an indie production from Goldhawk, set in a school in a Midland town where the new head teacher of a school in a Midlands town is eager to accommodate all faiths and cultures without discrimation of any kind. However, one of the school governors proves to be difficult; he is an intolerant Muslim, with no time for those who hold different values from his own, and he regards the school (and, it seems, virtually everyone in it) as failing in its duty of care towards his daughter. This was a thought-provoking play, brilliantly acted, about a clash of cultures, and two strong-minded individuals both utterly unable to understand the other's point of view. The head, driven to exasperation by Mr. Shah's intransigence, clearly wondered "if you dislike the school, the country and its freedoms so much, why don't you return to the repressed regime you came from?" The head teacher was played by Heather Craney and Mr. Shah by Neil D'Souza; John Dryden produced. (....ND, 'Diversity' review, Sep 2014)
Cast list: Heather Crany, Neil dD'Souza, Sam Dastor, Tracy Ifeachor, Philip Jackson, Becci Gemmill, Jaz Deol. Producer - John Dryden.
HOW TO MAKE YOUR FIRST BILLION....2010
Originally broadcast in 10 parts on the World Service on 10 Mar 2010. By Matthew Solon; dir. John Dryden. This was a fascinating glimpse into the midset of those who have masterminded some of the technical innovations in Silicon Valley, including the creation of Google, Facebook, Twitter, and other iconic 'brands'. It was broadcast on two adjacent afternoons at 2.15: 19-20 Apr 10. It was billed in RT as a drama-documentary. Cast included Thomas Lazur, Zafar Karachiwala, Katie Rubin and Cassidy Brown.
There are some film clips associated with the play on youtube. Here are the links:
clip1...
clip2...
clip3...
More about this on the John Dryden page.
FIVE DAYS IN MAY....2010
6 Nov 10. Britain: the collapse of the Labour government's support in 2010 and its replacement with a coalition led by David Cameron.
FIVE DAYS IN MAY was a topical political drama (6 Nov 2010, R4) by Matthew Solon, a fictionalised reconstruction of the events just before the formation of the first coalition government in Britain for 70 years. The play was based on interviews with some of those who were there, and with political journalists. David Cameron was played by Samuel West, Nick Clegg by Nicholas Boulton, Gordon Brown by Gerard Kelly, Peter Mandelson by Henry Goodman, and Ed Balls by John Sessions. It received a glowing writeup by Eddie Mair in "Radio Times". This was an independent production by "Goldhawk Essential", the script by Matthew Solon and the production by John Dryden. 'Diversity' drama review, Dec 2010
More on the 2010 plays page.
THE DAY THAT LEHMANN DIED....2009
R4, 6 Sep 2009, World Service. The play is a fictional reconstruction of the events surrounding the demise of Lehmann Brothers' Investment Bank. Stars John Shea, John Rothman, Mark le Mara, Rob Campbell. Goldhawk Production for radio 4, 55m. Producer John Dryden.
DELAYED DEPARTURES....2007
1 May 07, rpt. 6 Oct 08. A story of lost love and broken promises. When a flight to Dubrovnik is delayed the passengers are forced to wait; first in the departure lounge and later in an airport hotel. Among them is Laura Clarke; a doctor stuck in the past. Laura ...... Samantha Bond Alex ...... Matthew Solon Glynn ...... Robert Gwylim Other parts played by Charlotte Melia; Hana Bachankova and Lois Tucker. Directed by John Dryden; Goldhawk Productions (independent radio drama company).
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Three passengers unlucky in love had simultaneous nervous breakdowns, then sought to rewrite the scripts of their lives - all before the next flight to Dubrovnik...at least the two played by Samantha Bond and Matthew Solon; Robert Gwylim temporarily transferred his angst to the task of getting the best out of the airline-issue meal vouchers - on balance, the most convincing storyline. (....part of a review from "The Stage", edited by N.D.)
THE APPEAL 21
Jul 06, 60m. When an asylum seeker's claim for asylum is rejected, the appeal court is her last chance to stay. This drama documentary reconstructs an asylum appeal court, using a mixture of actors, lawyers and refugees. It follows the case of a fictional Somali woman, and puts the audience into the position of those who decide if she can stay. Directed by JD.
THE JURY....1998
Woman's Hour drama serial in 25 150min parts.
Eps 1 - 6. 14th-21stSep98.
Eps 7 - 12. 22nd-29thSep98.
Eps 13 - 19. 30thSep-8thOct98.
Eps 20 - 25. 9th-16thOct98.
THE HAPPINESS FOUNDATION....1998
26 May 98. Dramatisation by John Dryden of the story by Matthew Solon, 45m...A successful family and successful children, but things start to go wrong... Afternoon play, dir. John Dryden, with Clive Mantle, Jan Ravens, Dermot Crowley.
THE HONG KONG HOLDING COMPANY....1997
The Hong Kong Holding Company 33 & 30 Jun 1997, afternoon plays, R4. A two-part documentary-style drama by Matthew Solon; set against the backdrop of the Hong Kong handover; which dips into the lives of a family torn apart by conflict.
A family business going through hard times; one of the firm more interested in politics than working, debts...struggling for money and power. Recorded on the streets of London and Hong Kong and transmitted from Hong Kong; the 2nd (concluding) episode went out only a few hours before the handover. Would it have been possible to broadcast it a fortnight later, I wonder? With Stuart Ong, Tin Lung Co; dir. John Dryden.
THE BUTTERFLY HUNT....1996 25 Oct 95; rpt. 9 Nov 96; Saturday Night Theatre. In the series 'Who Sings the Hero?'
POST-ELECTION LIVES by Matthew Solon
(BBC Radio 4, 27.4.95, 60 min. drama) Producer/Director John Dryden. News-based drama recorded in Johannesburg and broadcast one year on after South Africa's first democratic elections.
PUBLIC ORDER....1994
27/10/94; no other details.
ELECTION LIVES....1994
R4, 27.4.94, 45 min. Producer/Director John Dryden. News-based drama completed and broadcast on the day of the South African elections. Presented at the Prix Futura, Berlin 1995.
THE CROXTON YEAR....1993
Serial, 4 episodes, Radio 5, 15.3.1993 - 24.3.1993. No details in "RT"
THE MAN WHO CAME BACK
02/09/92, in the series 'Who Sings The Hero?' - no. 3.
THE INVITATION....1990
17/01/90; no other details.
JOURNEYS TO THE FRONTIER....1989
22.4.1989/1945; Peter Jeffrey/Janet Maw/Jack Shepherd.
THE GLASSHOUSE....1985
15.1.1985
SUMMER TRADE....1980
(Matthew Solon as actor); 23.10.1980; play written by Nick Darke, with Matthew Solon & Christian Rodska.
