Many parents would have brought their precious ones along tonight expecting a jolly night out, but Matilda is based on a Roald Dahl classic so there’s a welcome darkness to this mega hit musical they might not have been expecting.
It’s a tale of five-year-old child genius Matilda Wormwood who not only ends up in the family from hell, but then comes under the tutelage of monstrous headmistress Miss Trunchbull before using her formidable powers to take the tyrant down.
Matilda is a subtly challenging but always entertaining piece that works for young minds, and for big kids like me who were huge Dahl fans back in the day, who can appreciate themes like how abuse impacts adult life like for Matilda’s teacher, the saintly Miss Honey.
Dennis Kelly’s intelligent and funny adaptation keeps to the spirit of Dahl’s provocative storytelling and smart wordplay. He retains all the mischief of the original but rightly doesn’t sugarcoat the key themes of Matilda being abused by her family, and how standing up to a bully is always the right thing to do.
Matilda has won plenty of awards for best musical thanks in large part to a bold score and witty lyrics from comedian and composer Tim Minchin full of musicality, and stylistically ranges across rock, jazz and even a rhumba. Minchin sets his stall out early with the caustic opening number Miracle mocking helicopter parenting, and all the songs are just what Dahl might have written if he had been a musician.
Rob Howell’s iconic stage set, wonderfully lit by Hugh Vanstone, full of random letters and words from the show is like an extra cast member as he cleverly moves the action from Matilda’s grim home to the library where she finds a haven and her hellish school.
It was always risky staging a show where the star is so young, which is why Millie Hudson, Olivia Ironmonger and Sanna Kurihara share the role on tour, with Madison Davis who is on Matilda duty tonight This is a big role with lots of stage time that would daunt many much older actors, but Davis is pitch perfect as the fearless prodigy singing with real intelligence during Naughty, and confidently navigating the big emotional gear change in Quiet where Matilda finally unleashes all her mental powers. Paul Kieve’s inventive illusions add to the spookiness much to the delight of the children sitting around me.
Richard Hurst as Miss Trunchbull stomps around the stage, even soaring through the air during the well drilled physical comedy of The Smell of Rebellion, but doesn’t quite have the required menace for one of the stage’s greatest villains. Adam Stafford is great fun as the increasingly ludicrous Mr Wormwood, and Rebecca Thornhill as his equally horrid wife combines well with Ryan Lay’s incredibly limber Rudolpho for a hilarious rhumba during Loud. Tessa Kadler sings well as Miss Honey on the moving My House and convinces as Matilda’s saviour.
Young star Brodie Robson is dynamite during the famous cake eating scene, and the eight strong children’s ensemble is packed full of talent and potential. They have to be good as Peter Darling’s choreography is really demanding, and when it all comes together on Revolting Children as they celebrate their victory it is magical. The unsung heroes are the excellent adult ensemble, who clearly have chemistry with their younger charges, especially on the complex and wistful When I Grow Up as they soar over the audience on swings.
There were probably some awkward conversations on the way home as parents tried to explain some of what was going on, but surely the point of great theatre like this is to make minds young and old alike really think.
Matilda is on at Alhambra Bradford until Sunday 23rd November. To book www.bradford-theatres.co.uk or 01274 432000.
Reviewer: Paul Clarke
Reviewed: 30th October 2025
North West End UK Rating: