SA arts critic, producer and performer Matt Byrne dead at 63

The death of veteran arts critic, producer and performer Matt Byrne will leave a “huge hole” in Adelaide’s theatre scene, his grieving friends say.

Matt Byrne performed in and produced shows in Adelaide theatre since 1978. A legend in Adelaide’s arts and theatre scene, he died at the age of 63. Picture: Campbell Brodie

Veteran arts critic, theatre producer and performer Matt Byrne has been remembered as a “one-of-a-kind” character after his death at the age of 63.

Byrne passed away at Lyell McEwin Hospital late Monday night from pneumonia after a long battle with illness.

Friends paid tribute to the former Sunday Mail arts writer and founder of Matt Byrne Media, describing him as a one of the “most colourful and prolific characters ever to stride the boards” in Adelaide.

Adelaide producer Matt Byrne, who has performed in and produced shows at the theatre since 1978 says it is one of the best theatre venues in Adelaide. Picture Campbell Brodie.

Close friend and former colleague, legendary SA journalist Samela Harris, said Byrne would be greatly missed by the local arts community.

“There’s nobody like him,” she said. “He had chutzpah. He had courage. He was a colourful character, and cities need colourful characters like that.

“He was a good critic too, and he put on all these amazing Fringe shows. He loved nothing better than a punch line – and a laughing audience. I was very fond of him.

“He was a very, very valuable ingredient in the Adelaide theatre scene.”

Arts identity and Sunday Mail columnist Peter Goers, who knew Byrne for more than 40 years, said his passing left a “huge hole” in the Adelaide theatre scene.

Art critic Matt Byrne.

Actor Matt Byrne in Adelaide Fringe theatre production "Caddyshack and Other Dangerfields".

Adelaide Critics Circles chair Peter Burdon described Byrne as a “true one-off”.

“His unstoppable enthusiasm carried him and his supporters from one adventure to another,” he said. “We shall miss him.”

Byrne was also a writer, director and publicist, who had been a staple of the SA industry for over four decades.

Born and raised in Gawler, Byrne started as a performer with the Northern Light Theatre Company at Elizabeth’s Shedley Theatre in the 1970s.

He was honoured with the Adelaide Theatre Guild’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the Curtain Call Awards in 2016.

Byrne is survived by his brother Wayne and sisters Colleen and Alyson.