'We all need a bit of Matilda in our lives'
18:19, 15 Jan 2026Updated 18:26, 15 Jan 2026
REVOLTING! That’s the pupils of Crunchem Hall, the school where terrifying headmistress Miss Trunchbull reigns supreme, and little girls with pigtails are liable to be thrown by their locks out of the school grounds for being so annoyingly cutesy.
With the school’s motto translating as Children are Maggots, it’s clear how pupils are viewed by it’s leader – but they also carry the spirit of rebellion which makes them doubly ‘revolting’.Among them is Matilda, seemingly the only child whose parents don’t think she is some kind of miracle prince or princess, yet who is actually brilliant, in more ways than one.Apologies if this is sounding familiar, but it can’t be helped that the classic Roald Dahl tale – and the way Matilda and her cohort, together with kindly teacher Miss Honey, break the shackles of authority – is so widely known.But this adaptation by the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is certainly no cut-and-paste from the children’s book.Brought to the stage by writer Dennis Kelly and musician Tim Minchin, this is a version which weaves in it’s own twists and turns, while still delivering the best parts of the book and movie with the help of some toe-tapping musical numbers.Having first opened in 2010, it has won more than 100 awards and became the 10th longest-running musical in West End history, so there’s a chance that many people might have already seen it anyway.But Matilda The Musical is one of those theatre events so good that you find someone who hasn’t seen it and use them as an excuse to go again.From the opening numbers of act one, there is a lyrical dexterity which Matilda herself would be proud of, and will have you humming along as the story unfolds.Then there is the brilliance of the young ensemble – superbly aided by adult cast members – who do not just offer supporting roles but are central to the show.
The impact of having actor Richard Hurst as Miss Trunchbull – hairy legs and all – cannot be underestimated, and piles on comedy value while also being superbly dastardly.Among other adults, the brilliantly horrible characters like Mr and Mrs Wormwood (excellently portrayed by Adam Stafford and Rebecca Thornhill respectively) are excellent foils for the children, together with the agreeably saccharine Miss Honey (Tessa Kadler).Yet it was the excellent performance of the children, including Matilda herself, which ensured the show was as gripping as if it had been poured from the imagination of master storyteller Dahl himself.The roles of Matilda – and Bruce Bogtrotter – in the production are each shared equally by four young performers.
Madison Davis, Mollie Hutton, Olivia Ironmonger and Sanna Kurihara perform the role of Matilda in rotation and Oisin-Luca Pegg, Carter-J Murphy, Brodie Robson and Takunda Khumalo share the role of Bruce.Wednesday’s performance in Plymouth saw the role of Matilda played by Olivia Ironmonger, while Bruce was played by Oisin-Luca Pegg. Both were fantastic, and the biggest cheer of the night was saved for Olivia at the end of the evening.With the show running at a hefty two hours and 40 minutes, including an interval, it would be easy for the show to feel bloated. But the speed at which it seems to pass is testament to the quality of the show, and the second act is so absorbing that it seems to fly by.It’s pure coincidence that events taking place elsewhere make a story of rebellion and a willingness to stand up to authority feel so relevant, but no matter when you see it, there will likely be something that resonates with you from this fantastic musical.We all need a bit of Matilda in our lives, so make sure you don’t miss this run at TRP.