New Matildas announced for the RSC's multi award-winning production - see them learning acrobatics
Casting news
THE ROYAL Shakespeare Company’s multi award-winning production of Matilda The Musical has announced that Lilian Hardy, Emma Moore and Éva-Marie Saffrey will join Abbie Vena in the title role of Matilda from March 14, 2017.
To mark the arrival of the show’s new young actresses, a video has been released of the four girls learning acrobatic tricks and skills with their fellow cast member Craige Els, who plays Miss Trunchbull. To view it click here.
Also remaining in the adult company are Michael Begley as Mr Wormwood, Miria Parvin as Miss Honey and Rebecca Thornhill who plays Mrs Wormwood. The rest of the adult cast comprises Richard Astbury, Oliver Brooks, Collette Coleman, Maria Graciano, Elliot Harper, Daniel Hope, Daniel Ioannou, Kate Kenrick, Katie Lee, Fergal McGoff, Tom Muggeridge, Matthew Rowland, Matthew Serafini, Biancha Szynal, Laura Tyrer and Sharlene Whyte.
The young performers who will be joining the London company in the three teams playing the roles of Bruce, Lavender, Amanda and the rest of the pupils at Crunchem Hall are Mylo Burton-Mays, Kira Caple, Jessica Chalmers, Hari Coles, Archie Durrant, Charlotte Fallart, Regan Garcia, Ptolemy Gidney, Aiyana Goodfellow, Sebastian Harry, Angelina Li, Tilda Marriage Massey, Ben Robinson, Tori Louise Ryan and Kacy O’Sullivan.
Child cast members Nicholas Antoniou-Tibbitts, Max Brophy, Olivia Calladine-Smith, Elena Cervesi, Miles Harcombe, Michael Hawkins, Sam Jennings, Craig Noakes, Tia Palamathanan and Scarlett Wennink will remain in the company.
An adaptation of Roald Dahl’s 1988 children’s novel, Matilda, A Musical is the story of a special little girl with an extraordinary imagination.
Matilda’s parents think she’s a nuisance; Matilda thinks they’re only interested in watching television. And when they’re 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 isn’t 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.
Winner of over 75 major international awards, including 15 for Best Musical, Matilda The Musical has been seen by more than 6.5 million people worldwide. Having swept the board at the 2012 Olivier Awards, winning a record-breaking seven awards, Matilda The Musical has now played in 48 cities worldwide and continues to delight audiences in London, Australia and on tour around North America.
After opening to rave reviews and winning a Sydney Theatre Award for Best Musical in 2015, the Australian production played a sold-out season at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre. In July 2016, the production won all 13 Helpmann Awards for which it was nominated – a new record. The tour continues to Perth and Adelaide.
Matilda The Musical is produced in the West End by the Royal Shakespeare Company with André Ptaszynski and Denise Wood as Executive Producers. The production was developed with the support of Company Dramaturg Jeanie O’Hare and the RSC Literary Department.
Matilda The Musical is written by Dennis Kelly, with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, and direction by Matthew Warchus. The production is designed by Rob Howell, with choreography by Peter Darling, orchestrations, additional music and musical supervision by Christopher Nightingale, lighting by Hugh Vanstone, sound by Simon Baker and special effects and illusions by Paul Kieve.
Matilda The Musical is currently booking at the Cambridge Theatre until December 17, 2017. Buy tickets.
The original cast recording of Matilda the Musical is available from iTunes and on CD. Recorded in a studio by the original Stratford-upon-Avon cast, the album includes 17 original numbers from the production, including When I Grow Up, Revolting Children and The Smell of Rebellion. The CD is available from the RSC Shop, iTunes, or via the Matilda The Musical website.
Image: Royal Shakespeare Company production of Matilda The Musical – Emma Moore, Abbie Vena, Éva-Marie Saffrey and Lilian Hardy (L-R). Photo credit: Helen Maybanks.