September 2026
For Matthew Kereama, theatre has always been part of his life. Now, as a 2024 Fulbright New Zealand Graduate Award recipient, he is refining his craft at one of the world’s leading performing arts institutions.
Matthew is completing a Master of Fine Arts in Stage Directing at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Ranked among the world’s top drama schools, Carnegie Mellon has produced generations of acclaimed artists, and Matthew is preparing to join their ranks as he completes his master’s thesis alongside his final production.
“He was struggling with a monologue, so we sat together and found what made him click. Then he delivered it perfectly.”
The experience reinforced Matthew’s passion for guiding others and creating meaningful performances. Receiving a Fulbright award was the culmination of years of determination. After an unsuccessful first application, Matthew reapplied with renewed focus, driven by his ambition to study directing in the United States. His artistic journey has also been one of strengthening his identity as a Māori storyteller.
“As an artist we’re constantly trying to find our voice. I’m Māori, and it’s only in the last 40 or 50 years that we’ve had Māori theatre companies. There are stories I want to tell and voices I don’t often see represented in theatre and film. I want to help share those voices.”
Before arriving at Carnegie Mellon, Matthew had directed opera and independent theatre productions in New Zealand. During his studies he has directed Sophocles’ Ajax and is preparing his final production of Alistair McDowall’s X.
Since moving to Pittsburgh in August 2024, Matthew has embraced opportunities beyond the classroom. He has travelled throughout the United States, attending productions in New York, including Fulbright alumnus Eleanor Bishop’s Heartbreak Hotel Off Broadway and tenor Pene Pati’s Metropolitan Opera debut. He has also connected with fellow Fulbright grantees, including Luke Elborough, who is studying at New York University.
Matthew says Pittsburgh has exceeded his expectations.
“It’s a city that’s reinventing itself. It’s no longer defined by steel – it’s becoming a centre for universities, medicine and artificial intelligence. It also has an incredible arts scene.”
When he completes his degree, Matthew plans to return to Aotearoa to build on the skills and perspectives gained through his Fulbright experience.
“My goal is to come back to New Zealand with new skills to tell the stories I want to tell.”
He hopes to work with organisations including New Zealand Opera, Auckland Theatre Company and Silo Theatre while continuing to champion Māori stories on stage. His advice to future Fulbright grantees is simple.
“Go to a programme that brings you joy and matches your talent. I still pinch myself when I’m at the Metropolitan Opera or looking out over the Pittsburgh skyline. It’s an amazing experience, and it goes by so quickly. Graduate school is hard, but I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”