From Theatre Breaks

Last November Matilda, A Musical bursts onto the stage at The Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon and is now transferring to the Cambridge Theatre in London's West End for the 2011 season.

Adapted from Roald Dahl’s 1988 novel, with music and lyrics by Australian comic Tim Minchin and a book by Dennis Kelly, Matilda played a sell-out Christmas season from 9 December 2010 (previews from 9 November) to 30 January 2011 at the RSC's temporary Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Roald Dahl's classic novel, loved by generations of readers, has been adapted in a hilarious new version by Dennis Kelly with songs by composer and comedian Tim Minchin.

Matilda, A Musical runs from 22 November 2011 (previews from 18 October 2011) to 02 January 2012.

Matilda The Musical Theatre Breaks

Previews now start on 25th October 2011, with the press night moved from 22 November to 24 November 2011.

musical: Matilda The Musical
starring: Paul Kaye
	Book Now: Matilda The Musical theatre breaks
opening night:25/11/2011 booking until 12th February 2012

"She had begun to imagine the most incredible tales, entire universes inside her head. Stories, stories! I’m a sucker for a good story..."

Welcome to the magical world of Roald Dahl's Matilda, the special little girl with an extraordinary imagination.

Her parents think she is a nuisance and she thinks, quite rightly, they are only interested in watching telly. When they are not glued to the box, her mum spends all her time practising ballroom dancing while her dad gloats about his latest dodgy business deal. Life is not much better at school, where the monstrous headmistress Miss Trunchbull terrifies students and teachers alike.

Then one day Matilda discovers she has a very special power and decides it's time the grown ups were taught a lesson.

Be warned, the children are revolting...

Adult casting has been announced for the West End transfer of the Royal Shakespeare Company's musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Matilda, which opens at the Cambridge Theatre on 22 November 2011 (previews from 18 October).

• Bertie Carvel (Miss Trunchbull)
• Paul Kaye (Mr Wormwood)
• Josie Walker (Mrs Wormwood)
• Lauren Ward (Miss Honey)

• Also Marc Antolin, Verity Bentham, Peter Howe, Michael Kent, Melanie La Barrie, Matthew Malthouse, Alastair Parker, Nick Searle, Emily Shaw.

Further adult casting includes: Matthew Clark, Leanne Pinder, Rachel Moran, Lucy Thatcher, Tim Walton and Gary Watson.

The four young actresses playing the role of Matilda will be announced on 'Dahl Day' on Tuesday 13 September 2011

Interesting Facts about Matilda

• The book Matilda was first published in 1988, about a very clever girl with special powers. In 1996 Danny DeVito made it into a film starring Mara Wilson.

• Matilda the Musical by the Royal Shakespeare Company, was first performed last year in Stratford to great reviews. It won the 2011’s Critics’ Circle Award: for Best Musical.

• Australian Tim Minchin who wrote the musical score to Matilda the Musical is better known as a stand-up comedian.

• The young actresses who will play Matilda in the London version of the musical will be revealed on the 13th of September the birthday of the late Roald Dahl.

• There are four girls who share the role of Matilda: Eleanor Worthington Cox, Cleo Demetriou, Kerry Ingram and Sophia Kiely, supported by three different teams of children who make up the rest of the cast.

• Actor Bertie Carvel plays the headmistress The Trunchbull, who likes to throw children around, and he even had coaching from a former professional hammer thrower to prepare for the role.

• The RSC’s Armoury department makes the suit that Bertie wears to transform him into the mighty Agatha Trunchbull!

• The playwright Dennis Kelly had never written anything with music before and first thought him writing Matilda would have been a really bad idea.

• Australian comedian musician Tim Minchin wrote the music for Matilda, recently toured the UK with a 55-piece orchestra performing music he wrote – even though he can’t actually read music.