Matilda The Musical – Bord Gáis Energy Theatre – Review

MATILDA THE MUSICAL – 15 September – 18 October 2026

This is a work that has enjoyed multiple incarnations over the past 40 years. Whether you first encountered Roald Dahl’s book, published in 1988, the original film adaptation from 1996, or the stage musical, which premiered in 2010, it is fair to say that Matilda has become an enduring story. There is even a film adaptation of the musical, released in 2022, which starred Irish actress Alisha Weir in the titular role.

Matilda the Musical features music and lyrics by Tim Minchin and a book by Dennis Kelly. It retains the central story and much of the darkly comic spirit of Dahl’s original, but the songs give the material a new direction. Numbers such as When I Grow Up and Naughty are particularly memorable, capturing Matilda’s imagination and her determination to take control of her own story.

As is customary with productions involving children, the roles of Matilda and Bruce are shared between a number of young performers. Five actors play Matilda — Felicity Brown, Petra Hutchings, Mollie Hutton, Sanna Kurihara and Caroline Ravansari — while four take on the role of Bruce: Jett Austin-Richards, Isaac Cruickshank, John Johnson and Kobi Lau. On the night of this review, Matilda is played by Petra Hutchings and Bruce by John Johnson. Although the production is populated by a colourful collection of adults, it is Matilda who remains central, carrying much of the narrative as she navigates a world in which the grown-ups are often considerably less sensible than the children.

While Matilda is the focus, the performer having perhaps the most fun on stage is Richard Hurst as the wonderfully intimidating villain of the piece, Miss Trunchbull. Hurst throws himself into the role with gusto, playing the tyrannical headmistress of Crunchem Hall Primary School as a larger-than-life dictator who rules through fear, humiliation and an almost pathological hatred of children. The former Olympic hammer thrower’s treatment of the pupils is suitably outrageous, and a sequence in which a young girl with pigtails is spun around and hurled high into the air is one of the highlights.

There are plenty of other memorable creations along the way. Adam Stafford and Rebecca Thornhill bring an entertainingly grotesque energy to Matilda’s parents, Mr and Mrs Wormwood, while Ryan Lay’s Rudolpho is an exuberant, scene-stealing presence. The production understands that Dahl’s world is at its best when it embraces the ridiculous, allowing its characters to become exaggerated versions of reality.

This is a firm family favourite, aimed primarily at a younger audience, with an age guidance of 6+. There is plenty of suitably over-the-top characterisation, energetic choreography and madcap action, all wrapped around a story about the importance of standing up for yourself. Judging by the audience on opening night, there appeared to be considerably more young girls than boys in attendance, but it will appeal to anyone who enjoys Dahl’s distinctive blend of darkness, humour and childhood rebellion.

Click here for more information on Cast & Crew:

Thomas Rankin plays Nigel,  Martha Tutil plays Lavender, Aaron Zicman plays Tommy, Beatrice Clark plays Amanda, and Eric is played by Kaiheim Ricketts.