DJ Excalibah

Matthew Xia (born 1982) is a British theatre director, DJ, composer, broadcaster, and journalist. He is currently the Artistic Director of the Actors Touring Company. He performs music under the name DJ Excalibah.

Early life and education Matthew Xia was born in 1982 to a Scottish and English mother and a Jamaican father. He was born in Waltham Forest, London. He grew up in the Leytonstone and Newham areas.

His interest in the performing arts started when he was 11 years old. He joined the youth theatre program at the Theatre Royal Stratford East. During this time, he experienced his very first acting audition alongside Jude Law.

Career As a young man, Xia worked for his uncle's recruitment agency. He did some map reading for drivers and picked up a few other random jobs before launching his music career. His wider broadcast work includes hosting on BBC Radio 1, 6 Music, the BBC World Service, and Radio 4. He has also submitted formal responses to Ofcom consultations regarding BBC performance standards.

During the parade at the 2012 Summer Paralympics opening ceremony, he presented a mix of global music alongside DJ Walde and Goldierocks. He has performed live sets at the Glastonbury Festival, Ministry of Sound, Fabric, and various clubs across Europe. His directing work there included I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky, Mad Blud, Re:Definition, Da Boyz, and The Blacks.

In 2013, Xia received the Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme bursary. He took a post as the director in residence at the Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse theatres. There he directed the premiere of Daniel Matthew's Scrappers and worked as the associate director for the Everyman's opening ceremony. His debut production with the company was Amsterdam by Israeli writer Maya Arad Yasur. It opened at the Orange Tree Theatre in autumn 2019. Xia worked to update the governance of ATC by establishing a new board and relocating their headquarters to the newly opened Brixton House.

During the 2020 Greenwich and Docklands International Festival, Xia directed 846 Live. The play was a direct response to the murder of George Floyd. The title referenced the 8 minutes and 46 seconds that a police officer knelt on Floyd's neck.

Other activities Xia is a founding member of the Act For Change advocacy group. He serves as a trustee for Artistic Directors of the Future. He has also held board positions for Rich Mix and Creative Future. He was a judge for the Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting in 2017 and the Alfred Fagon Award in 2017. He also served as a jury member for the Eurovision Song Contest 2022.

Recognition and awards 2013: Recipient of the Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme bursary. 2013: Winner of the Young Vic Genesis Future Director award for Sizwe Banzi is Dead. 2017: Manchester Theatre award for best studio production for Wish List. 2019: Honorary doctorate from the University of the Arts London. 2022: Olivier Award for best family entertainment for Hey Duggee The Live Theatre Show.

Selected theatre productions 2004: Da Boyz by Rodgers & Hart at Theatre Royal Stratford East. 2007: The Blacks by Jean Genet at Theatre Royal Stratford East. 2011: I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky by John Adams at Theatre Royal Stratford East. 2013: Sizwe Banzi Is Dead by Athol Fugard at the Young Vic. 2015: Into The Woods by Stephen Sondheim at the Manchester Royal Exchange. 2015: Blue/Orange by Joe Penhall at the Young Vic. 2016: Wish List by Katherine Soper at the Manchester Royal Exchange. 2018: Frankenstein adapted by April De Angelis at the Manchester Royal Exchange. 2018: Shebeen by Mufaro Makubika.