Matthías Haraldsson (1994) is a playwright and artist based in Reykjavik, Iceland. His plays have been translated and performed in English, Danish, and his native Icelandic. His play 'Síðustu dagar Sæunnar' won play of the year at Gríman, the Icelandic theatre and performance awards, and was part of the Eurodram 24 selection. His play 'Griðastaður' was nominated for Gríman in 2019.
Matthías represented Iceland at the Eurovision Song Contest as a performer and lyricist with award-winning anti-capitalist performance art collective Hatari, which he co-founded. The participation would grab headlines worldwide.
Matthías graduated with a B.A. in theatre and performance making from the Iceland University of the Arts in 2018. He has written, directed, and collaborated in numerous plays and performances, worked as a translator, copywriter, a radio host, and as a journalist for Icelandic state broadcaster RUV.
Matthías is currently employed as a dramaturge at the National Theatre of Iceland.
Awards and nominations:
2024
Eurodram 24 Icelandic selection,
for the play Síðustu dagar Sæunnar
2023
Author of play of the year at Gríman, the Icelandic Theatre and Performance Awards
2019
Newcomer of the Year at Gríman, the Icelandic Theatre and Performance Awards
2019
Nominated for Play of the Year at Gríman, the Icelandic Theatre and Performance Awards
2019
Winner of Söngvakeppnin, the Icelandic Eurovision Primaries, with Hatari
2018
Performer of the Year at the Icelandic Music Awards with Hatari
2018
Best Live Band at the Reykjavik Grapevine Music Awards with Hatari
Work:
2023-
Dramaturge at the National Theatre of Iceland
2023
Dramaturge for the production of Edda at the National Theatre of Iceland
2023
Translator for Reykjavik City theatre, translating the musical Jagged Little Pill into Icelandic
2023
Copywriter at Brandenburg advertisment agency
2023
Columnist at Heimildin weekly newspaper
2022
Author of Síðustu dagar Sæunnar, play shown at Reykjavik City theatre
2022
Resident playwright at the Reykjavik City theatre
2021
Radio host for Allir deyja, four part series on death and mortality broadcast on RUV
2021
Author of Vloggið, play for teenagers commissioned by the National Theatre of Iceland
2020
Dramaturge for Ekkert er sorglegra en manneskjan, contemporary opera at Tjarnarbíó Theatre
2020
Lyrics, vocals, and other roles on Neyslutrans, album by Hatari
2020
Author of Maðkurinn og lirfan, short play comissioned by Þjóðleikur for Icelandic teenagers
2020
Co-creator and performer in Skattsvik Development Group, performance at Reykjavik City Theatre with Á&K theatre group
2019
Author of Stóri Björn og kakkalakkarnir, theatre production at Reykjavik City Theatre
2019
Participant in Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Iceland with Hatari
2019
Director of Takk fyrir mig, independent theatre production at Iðnó, Reykjavik
2019
Author and director of Griðastaður, theatre production at Tjarnarbíó Theatre with Allir deyja theatre group
2018
Director and co-author of Mean Boys, theatre production with Frúardagur, theatre company at Reykjavik Junior College
2017
Co-creator and performer in Sýning um glímu og Slazenger, independent production with Á&K theatre group
2017
Journalist and reporter for Icelandic public broadcaster RUV, writing for television, radio and web
2016
Author and director of Þvottur, independent theatre production at Tjarnarbíó Theatre
2016
Translator of Dead Man's Cell Phone play by Sarah Ruhl for Reykjavik Arts Festival
Other:
2024-
Icelandic Language Council, member
2025-
Reykjavik Arts Festival Advisory Council, member
Has also worked as a cook on a fishing trawler and an Aluminum factory worker