Matilda the Musical, the show that rocked Jozi, is coming to Cape Town at Artscape, on 9 December thanks to Pieter Toerien and GWB Entertainment . Highly anticipated, Matilda is perfect entertainment for the whole family.
The coveted title role of Matilda is shared by three uniquely talented young Capetonian girls: Lilla Fleischmann, Kitty Harris and Morgan Santo. The young starlets are accompanied by Cape Town actors Ryan de Villers as the gigantic holy terror, Miss Trunchbull and Bethany Dickson as Matilda’s devoted teacher Miss Honey.
The show has played to capacity houses at the Teatro at Montecasino and will now run on Artscape Opera stage over Christmas and into the New Year.
Matilda the Musical – the background
Matilda the Musical, premiered at the Royal Shakespeare Company’s home in Stratford-upon-Avon, playing to sold-out audiences from November 2010 to January 2011. Capturing the imagination of young and old alike, the RSC transferred the production to London’s West End in October 2011 where the show continues to play to sold-out houses at the Cambridge Theatre.
Roald Dahl’s magical story about a girl with extraordinary powers has been a firm favourite novel of millions of people across the world since it was first published in 1988.
Matilda the Musical – the cast
Stephen Jubber and Claire Taylor play Mr and Mrs Wormwood, Matilda’s awful parents and the loveable librarian Mrs Phelps is played by Nompumelelo Mayiyane.
Matilda is joined by the other pupils at Crunchem Hall Primary School played by Jack Fokkens, Keeran Isaacs, Robyn Ivey, Joshua LeClair, Levi Maron, Ipeleng Merafe, Megan Saayman, Taylor Salgado, Cameron Seear and Zac Gabriel Werb.
The adult company is comprised of Jasmin Colangelo, Katrina Dix, Sinead Donnelly, Michael Gardiner, Kent Jeycocke, Weslee Lauder, Carlo McFarlane, Kenneth Meyer, Daniel Parrott, Adrianna Patlaszynska, Jonathan Raath and Logan TimbreThe adult company is comprised of Jasmin Colangelo, Katrina Dix, Sinead Donnelly, Michael Gardiner, Kent Jeycocke, Weslee Lauder, Carlo McFarlane, Kenneth Meyer, Daniel Parrott, Adrianna Patlaszynska, Jonathan Raath and Logan Timbre
The production has sets and costumes by Rob Howell, with choreography by Peter Darling, orchestrations, additional music and musical supervision by Christopher Nightingale, lighting by Hugh Vanstone, and sound by Simon Baker.
WHERE: Artscape Opera House, Hertzog Boulevard, Foreshore, Cape Town 8001
WHEN: 9 December 2018 – 13 January 2019
TICKETS: Computickets or the Artscape Box-office line 021 410 983
Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl (1916-1990) was the author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG and many more of the world’s best-loved children’s stories. He remains one of the world’s greatest storytellers and is celebrated annually by the world’s biggest author-based event, Roald Dahl Day – which is recognised across the globe on 13th September.
His first children’s story, James and the Giant Peach, published in 1961 and was a huge hit. Every subsequent book became a best-seller.
Today, his stories are available in 61 languages and, by a conservative estimate he has sold more than 250 million books. Many of these stories have also been adapted for stage and screen, including the 1971 film classic Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Wes Anderson’s acclaimed Fantastic Mr Fox, and the Royal Shakespeare Company’s multi-award-winning production of Matilda The Musical.
PHOTOS: Christiaan Kotze