RSC Sets Dates for Dahl’s Matilda Musical, 9 Nov

The Royal Shakespeare Company has confirmed dates for its musical version of Roald Dahl’s 1988 children’s novel Matilda. The musical will be one of the final productions at Stratford-upon-Avon’s Courtyard Theatre (prior to next year’s reopening of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre), where it will have a straight run from 9 November 2010 to 30 January 2011. Public booking opens on 21 April 2010.

In Matilda, A Musical, which has a book by playwright Dennis Kelly and music and lyrics by Australian comedian Tim Minchin, the central character is a little girl with astonishing wit, intelligence and psychokinetic powers. She’s unloved by her parents but impresses her schoolteacher with and, over the course of her first term at school, teacher and pupil have a profound effect on each other’s lives. Matthew Warchus directs.

Speaking about the project at a press conference last September, RSC artistic director Michael Boyd commented: “Matilda is a magical and darkly funny book that the RSC has wanted to bring to life on stage for many years. I’m delighted – not least as the father of an eight-year-old girl – that Dahl’s classic tale will play in Stratford for a family audience to enjoy at Christmas.

“Dennis, Matthew and Tim bring a combination of creativity, wit and mischief to the production which will make the show an experience to remember. We’re very grateful to the Dahl Estate for allowing us to adapt the book.”

Though an infrequent programming choice for the national company devoted to the bard’s work, the RSC has premiered several other non-Shakespeare-related musicals over the years including, most famously, Les Miserables as well as The Wizard of Oz, The Secret Garden and, less successfully, Carrie and A Clockwork Orange.