{{short description|British comedian and film-maker}} thumb|Matthew Highton in 2025 '''Matthew Highton''' is a British comedian<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chortle.co.uk/comics/m/33706/matthew_highton|title=Matthew Highton, comedian tour dates : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide|website=www.chortle.co.uk}}</ref> and film-maker from Saddleworth known for his surreal storytelling.<ref>http://www.broadwaybaby.com/news/matthew-highton/237. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121150602/http://www.broadwaybaby.com/news/matthew-highton/237 |date=2015-01-21 }}</ref>
Performing since 2009, Highton has worked as both a solo act and as part of the alternative comedy collective Weirdos. He has taken several shows to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, débuting in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fringeguru.com/editorial/edinburgh-2010/matthew-hightons-incidental-combobulations-preview.html|title=FringeGuru - Matthew Highton's Incidental Combobulations|website=www.fringeguru.com}}</ref> In 2014, Highton was also part of the cast for ''Knightmare Live'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.knightmarelive.com/page3.html |title=Cast |accessdate=2015-01-21 |url-status=usurped |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121150404/http://www.knightmarelive.com/page3.html |archivedate=2015-01-21 }}</ref> a stage version of the popular 90s children show Knightmare.
As part of Weirdos, Highton co-wrote and directed their 2013's alternative Christmas Panto, ''The Colonel''<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.timeout.com/london/comedy/the-colonel-the-weirdos-comedy-clubs-alternative-pantomime| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131219165341/http://www.timeout.com/london/comedy/the-colonel-the-weirdos-comedy-clubs-alternative-pantomime| archive-date = 2013-12-19| title = The Colonel: the Weirdos team's alternative pantomime – Christmas comedy in London – Time Out Comedy – Time Out London}}</ref> alongside Weirdos founder Adam Larter and directed 2014's ''A Christmas Tail''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/london/comedy/a-christmas-tail-weirdos-alternative-panto|title=A Christmas Tail – Weirdos Alternative Panto|website=Time Out London}}</ref> He also played Rufio in their 2012 stage re-production of Steven Spielberg's ''Hook''. In 2012, Highton and Larter also put on ''Bowie Fest''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/london/comedy/bowie-fest|title=Bowie Fest|website=Time Out London}}</ref> a spoof version of the V&A's 'Bowie Is' exhibit.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/david-bowie|title=V&A · David Bowie|website=Victoria and Albert Museum}}</ref> In 2017, he played a hybrid of Donald Trump and Phil Collins,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.beyondthejoke.co.uk/content/4690/live-review-tony-law-and-friends-battle-icetopia-alexandra-palace|title=Live Review: Tony Law and Friends in The Battle for Icetopia, Alexandra Palace|date=October 15, 2017|website=Beyond The Joke}}</ref> in Tony Law and Friends in the Battle for Icetopia. A collaboration between Weirdos and Tony Law unwisely set on the Alexandra Palace Ice Rink.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2017/oct/11/slippery-concept-tony-law-and-friends-in-the-battle-for-utopia-i-ice-skate-epic-trump-stalin-polar-bears|title=Anarchy at the ice rink: when comedy, theatre and nonsense collide|date=October 11, 2017|website=the Guardian}}</ref> The show went on to receive the 2018 Chortle Award for Event of the Year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2018/03/18/39430/women_dominate_the_chortle_live_comedy_awards|title=Chortle Awards 2018: The results : News 2018 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide|first=Steve|last=Bennett|website=www.chortle.co.uk}}</ref>
Highton is a filmmaker, creating the online sketch show ''The Thinking Shower'' which he stars in alongside, amongst others, Fosters Comedy Award winner John Kearns. In 2014, he made his first short film ''Santageddon''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.liveforfilms.com/2014/12/18/cool-short-santageddon-christmas-comedy-horror/ |title=Cool Short: Santageddon – Christmas comedy horror! | Live for Films |access-date=2015-01-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121155053/http://www.liveforfilms.com/2014/12/18/cool-short-santageddon-christmas-comedy-horror/ |archive-date=2015-01-21 |url-status=dead }}</ref> which starred several other UK comedians including Kearns, Nick Helm, Gemma Whelan and Pat Cahill. He has a plethora of shorts and sketches to his name, working closely with many of the UKs best comedians. Many of these include collaborations with fellow Weirdo Joz Norris,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://comedytowatch.com/2019/05/09/interview-joz-norris/|title=Interview: Joz Norris|first=Alex|last=Finch|date=May 9, 2019}}</ref> whom he also has a Resonance FM radio show with, called Radio K.A.O.S<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mixcloud.com/Resonance/radio-kaos-16102019/|title=Mixcloud|website=Mixcloud}}</ref> named after the Roger Waters album.
During the Coronavirus pandemic, Highton put his filmmaking and editing skills to use creating a string of viral videos. Most notably his stock footage recreations, where he recreates classic TV intros such as Pokémon<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2021/04/pokmons-intro-remade-with-stock-footage/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412023139/https://www.kotaku.com.au/2021/04/pokmons-intro-remade-with-stock-footage/|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 12, 2021|title = Pokémon's Intro, Remade with Stock Footage|date = 7 April 2021}}</ref> and the Simpsons<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nerdist.com/article/the-simpsons-intro-stock-footage/|title = THE SIMPSONS Intro Recreated from Stock Footage is a Delight}}</ref> using nothing but stock footage.
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * [http://www.matthewhighton.co.uk/ Matthew Highton] * [https://twitter.com/MattHighton Matthew Highton] on Twitter
{{DEFAULTSORT:Highton, Matthew}} Category:British comedians Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people)