The Royal Shakespeare Company, Louise Withers, Michael Coppel & Michael Watt have announced that Matilda The Musical will commence performances at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre from 13 March 2016 for a strictly limited season.
The winner of over 50 international awards, including 12 for Best Musical, the RSC’s production of Matilda The Musical is currently enjoying a highly successful season in Sydney with standing ovations at every performance and tickets currently on sale for performances through to 31 January.
Matilda The Musical is based on the beloved novel by best-selling author Roald Dahl (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fantastic Mr. Fox). It is the story of an extraordinary girl who armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, dares to take a stand and change her own destiny.
Having proven an enormous success in London’s West End and on Broadway, where productions continue to play to packed houses and capture the imagination of young and old alike, Matilda The Musical opened to unqualified rave reviews in Sydney earlier this year.
“We’re delighted that Australian audiences have fallen in love with Matilda,” says Producer, Louise Withers. “We look forward to continued success during our current Sydney run and moving Matilda to Melbourne.”
Matilda The Musical is directed by Tony Award winner Matthew Warchus (God of Carnage), who helms this production with a book by Tony Award-winning playwright Dennis Kelly and music and lyrics by Australian Tim Minchin.
Roald Dahl was one of the world’s most inventive, mischievous, and successful storytellers. His stories are currently available in 58 languages and, by a conservative estimate; he has sold more than 200 million books. Many of Roald Dahl’s best-loved stories have been adapted for stage and screen.
High profile film adaptations include: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971); James and the Giant Peach (1996); Matilda (1996); Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005); and Fantastic Mr Fox (2009). The next movie will be Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of The BFG – set for release in July 2016.
Roald Dahl Day is marked annually all over the world on – and around his birthday: 13 September. In 2016, there will be global celebrations for the Centenary of his birth.
Matilda The Musical
Princess Theatre, 163 Spring Street, Melbourne
Season from 13 March 2016
Bookings: 1300 723 038 or online at: www.ticketmaster.com.au (on sale 20 October)
For more information, visit: au.matildathemusical.com for details.
Image: Matilda The Musical – photo by James Morgan