Profile —
Melanie Wilson is a U.K based inter-disciplinary performance maker. Her work centres on the use of sound and the listening experience.
Melanie is also currently a PhD candidate at the Centre for Performance, Technology and Equity, where her research explores feminist listening practices, and how they connect humans to the life worlds of other species.
As a writer, performer, sound artist and composer Melanie has collaborated with artists and companies across theatre, film, opera, installation, architecture and choreography. She creates sound works for a range of different spaces and places from main house auditoria to headphones. Melanie is a long term composer collaborator on the work of Katie Mitchell.
Melanie’s work is developed over long time frames, emerging from deep and sustained research processes and collaboration with other practitioners.
top image: Tom Barker
Performance —
Performance & sound works:
Cow | Deer (2025)
with Nina Segal and Katie Mitchell; Royal Court Theatre, London; National Theatre of Greece, Athens & FIND Festival, Schaubühne, Berlin.
Oracle Song (2025)
Barbican Pit Theatre, FuelFest.
Leonora Carrington’s Old Maids (2024)
Headphones permanent installation, Sainsbury’s Centre, Norwich.
Dreaming Species (2024)
online at www.dreaming species.com
glass human (2022)
with Samantha Fernando; Glyndebourne Tour.
Current, Rising (2021)
(Libretto) with Samantha Fernando, Netia Jones, Joanna Scotcher, Anna Dennis, David Sheppard & Figment Productions; Royal Opera House, London.
Radical Mother (2019)
Coastal Currents Festival, Latitude Festival & TEDx Bristol.
Women of Record (2018)
binaural headphones piece, National Trust, Knole House.
Opera for the Unknown Woman (2016) Wales Millennium Centre, Yorkshire International Festival and Platform Theatre London (shortlisted for the Ralf Lieberman Prize for Opera, Fedora Network).
The Narrow World (2015) short film with Gemma Riggs & the British Council in Tunisia.
Landscape II (2013)
Dublin Fringe Festival 2013 & U.K touring.
Autobiographer (2011) ArtsAdmin, London, Dublin Fringe Festival 2011 & U.K touring, (winner of Off Westend Award for Best Sound Design 2012).
6 degrees below the horizon and falling (2011) Headphones piece for Their Wonderlands international group exhibition, mac gallery, Birmingham.
Self Portrait with Frida (2011) Audio installation commissioned by BAC for the One on One Festival 2011.
every minute, always (2010) with Abigail Conway, Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2010, British Council showcase 2011 & U.K and International touring.
The View From Here (2010) Audio performance commissioned by BAC One on One Festival 2010, also featured on Resonance FM and The Third Coast International Audio Festival, Chicago Public Radio.
Iris Brunette (2009) UK & International touring (winner of Best Production at Dublin Fringe Festival).
The Philosopher of Furniture (2008) BAC commission to accompany Masque of the Red Death by Punchdrunk.
Simple Girl (2008) BAC, London, Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2007, Dublin Fringe Festivals 2007 (nominated for Best Actress & Spirit of the Fringe Award), UK and International touring.
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Cow | Deer (2025)
with Nina Segal and Katie Mitchell; Royal Court Theatre, London; National Theatre of Greece, Athens & FIND Festival, Schaubühne, Berlin.
Oracle Song (2025)
Barbican Pit Theatre, FuelFest.
Leonora Carrington’s Old Maids (2024)
Headphones permanent installation, Sainsbury’s Centre, Norwich.
Dreaming Species (2024)
online at www.dreaming species.com
glass human (2022)
with Samantha Fernando; Glyndebourne Tour.
Current, Rising (2021)
(Libretto) with Samantha Fernando, Netia Jones, Joanna Scotcher, Anna Dennis, David Sheppard & Figment Productions; Royal Opera House, London.
Radical Mother (2019)
Coastal Currents Festival, Latitude Festival & TEDx Bristol.
Women of Record (2018)
binaural headphones piece, National Trust, Knole House.
Opera for the Unknown Woman (2016) Wales Millennium Centre, Yorkshire International Festival and Platform Theatre London (shortlisted for the Ralf Lieberman Prize for Opera, Fedora Network).
The Narrow World (2015) short film with Gemma Riggs & the British Council in Tunisia.
Landscape II (2013)
Dublin Fringe Festival 2013 & U.K touring.
Autobiographer (2011) ArtsAdmin, London, Dublin Fringe Festival 2011 & U.K touring, (winner of Off Westend Award for Best Sound Design 2012).
6 degrees below the horizon and falling (2011) Headphones piece for Their Wonderlands international group exhibition, mac gallery, Birmingham.
Self Portrait with Frida (2011) Audio installation commissioned by BAC for the One on One Festival 2011.
every minute, always (2010) with Abigail Conway, Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2010, British Council showcase 2011 & U.K and International touring.
The View From Here (2010) Audio performance commissioned by BAC One on One Festival 2010, also featured on Resonance FM and The Third Coast International Audio Festival, Chicago Public Radio.
Iris Brunette (2009) UK & International touring (winner of Best Production at Dublin Fringe Festival).
The Philosopher of Furniture (2008) BAC commission to accompany Masque of the Red Death by Punchdrunk.
Simple Girl (2008) BAC, London, Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2007, Dublin Fringe Festivals 2007 (nominated for Best Actress & Spirit of the Fringe Award), UK and International touring.
Sound & Music—
As a collaborating composer & sound artist:
You Heard Me (2023) with Luca Rutherford, Maria Crocker, Tanuja Amarasuriya, Bethany Wells, Bethany Gupwell, Stephanie McMann and Jenni Jackson; ARC, Stockton & U.K. touring.
The Other Woman (2023) An Audible Original drama, written by Afsaneh Gray and directed by Elayce Ismail.
They (2023) with Maxine Peake, Sarah Frankcom & Imogen Knight; Manchester International Festival.
all of it (2023) written by Alistair McDowall, performed by Kate O’Flynn, directed by Vicki Featherstone & Sam Pritchard; Royal Court Theatre & Avignon Festival.
Unsere Zeit (2021)
directed and written by Simon Stone; Residenztheatre, Munich.
Where I Go (When I Can’t Be Where I Am)
(2021)
Film adaptation of The Shape of the Pain, BBC Culture in Quarantine.
You Move Me (2018) Multi-channel film installation with Gemma Riggs & Laura Murphy; Herbert Reade Gallery & NN Contemporary.
Uncle Vanya (2017)
directed by Walter Meierjohann; HOME, Manchester.
Kingdom Come (2017) with Wendy Hubbard, Gemma Brockis and Charlie Espiner, RSC, Stratford.
The Shape of the Pain (2017) with Chris Thorpe and Rachel Bagshaw, Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2017 (Fringe First winner) & U.K touring.
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As a composer & sound artist with Katie Mitchell:
Bernarda Alba’s Haus (2024) Deutsches Schauspeilhaus, Hamburg & Theatretreffen, Berlin Festspeile.
little scratch (2023) New Diorama Theatre, London & Hampstead Theatre, London (2023).
Orlando (2019)
Schaubühne, Berlin.
When We Have Sufficiently Tortured Each Other (2019) National Theatre, London.
Anatomy of a Suicide (2017)
Royal Court Theatre, London.
Cleansed (2016)
National Theatre, London.
Schatten… Eurydike sagt (2016)
Schaubühne, Berlin.
Reisende auf Einem Bein (2015)
Deutsches Schauspeilhaus, Hamburg.
The Forbidden Zone (2014)
Salzburg Festival & Barbican Theatre, London
Wunschloses Unglück (2014)
Burg Theatre, Vienna.
Die Gelbe Tapete (2013)
Schaubühne, Berlin.
Reise Durch die Nacht (2012) Schauspeilhuas, Cologne, Avignon Festival 2012 and Theatretreffen, Berlin Festspeile.
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image: Helen Murray
You Heard Me (2023) with Luca Rutherford, Maria Crocker, Tanuja Amarasuriya, Bethany Wells, Bethany Gupwell, Stephanie McMann and Jenni Jackson; ARC, Stockton & U.K. touring.
The Other Woman (2023) An Audible Original drama, written by Afsaneh Gray and directed by Elayce Ismail.
They (2023) with Maxine Peake, Sarah Frankcom & Imogen Knight; Manchester International Festival.
all of it (2023) written by Alistair McDowall, performed by Kate O’Flynn, directed by Vicki Featherstone & Sam Pritchard; Royal Court Theatre & Avignon Festival.
Unsere Zeit (2021)
directed and written by Simon Stone; Residenztheatre, Munich.
Where I Go (When I Can’t Be Where I Am)
(2021)
Film adaptation of The Shape of the Pain, BBC Culture in Quarantine.
You Move Me (2018) Multi-channel film installation with Gemma Riggs & Laura Murphy; Herbert Reade Gallery & NN Contemporary.
Uncle Vanya (2017)
directed by Walter Meierjohann; HOME, Manchester.
Kingdom Come (2017) with Wendy Hubbard, Gemma Brockis and Charlie Espiner, RSC, Stratford.
The Shape of the Pain (2017) with Chris Thorpe and Rachel Bagshaw, Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2017 (Fringe First winner) & U.K touring.
As a composer & sound artist with Katie Mitchell:
Bernarda Alba’s Haus (2024) Deutsches Schauspeilhaus, Hamburg & Theatretreffen, Berlin Festspeile.
little scratch (2023) New Diorama Theatre, London & Hampstead Theatre, London (2023).
Orlando (2019)
Schaubühne, Berlin.
When We Have Sufficiently Tortured Each Other (2019) National Theatre, London.
Anatomy of a Suicide (2017)
Royal Court Theatre, London.
Cleansed (2016)
National Theatre, London.
Schatten… Eurydike sagt (2016)
Schaubühne, Berlin.
Reisende auf Einem Bein (2015)
Deutsches Schauspeilhaus, Hamburg.
The Forbidden Zone (2014)
Salzburg Festival & Barbican Theatre, London
Wunschloses Unglück (2014)
Burg Theatre, Vienna.
Die Gelbe Tapete (2013)
Schaubühne, Berlin.
Reise Durch die Nacht (2012) Schauspeilhuas, Cologne, Avignon Festival 2012 and Theatretreffen, Berlin Festspeile.
image: Helen MurrayPerformer —
As a devising performer:
The Victorian in the Wall with Will Adamsdale, Royal Court Theatre London & U.K touring.
13 Pieces, 17 Feet
with Becky Beasley and Chris Sharpe, Serpentine Gallery Pavilion.
…Sisters
with Chris Goode, The Gate Theatre, London.
5 in the morning
with Rotozaza, Hackney Empire, Shunt Vaults & international touring.
Red Ladies
with Clod Ensemble, Hackney Empire & Warwick Arts Centre.
The Silver Swan
with Clod Ensemble, Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2006.
Drenched with Boilerhouse, Scottish national tour (nominated for Best Actress in a Visiting Company in MEN Theatre Awards 2006).
Dead Man’s Biggest Fan with Catherine Dyson, ‘This Way Up’ English national tour & BAC, London.
Shame (film)with Tom Geens (best short, London FF 2006, short listed Melies d’Or 2007, best short Lausanne FF 2007).
Melanie also appeared for limited runs with Shunt in Tropicana at Shunt Vaults and Money at the Bermondsey Street Warehouse.
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The Victorian in the Wall with Will Adamsdale, Royal Court Theatre London & U.K touring.
13 Pieces, 17 Feet
with Becky Beasley and Chris Sharpe, Serpentine Gallery Pavilion.
…Sisters
with Chris Goode, The Gate Theatre, London.
5 in the morning
with Rotozaza, Hackney Empire, Shunt Vaults & international touring.
Red Ladies
with Clod Ensemble, Hackney Empire & Warwick Arts Centre.
The Silver Swan
with Clod Ensemble, Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2006.
Drenched with Boilerhouse, Scottish national tour (nominated for Best Actress in a Visiting Company in MEN Theatre Awards 2006).
Dead Man’s Biggest Fan with Catherine Dyson, ‘This Way Up’ English national tour & BAC, London.
Shame (film)with Tom Geens (best short, London FF 2006, short listed Melies d’Or 2007, best short Lausanne FF 2007).
Melanie also appeared for limited runs with Shunt in Tropicana at Shunt Vaults and Money at the Bermondsey Street Warehouse.
