Minchin’s Matilda Comes to West End in Autumn

As previously tipped, the Royal Shakespeare Company’s musical adaptation of Matilda will transfer to the West End this autumn for an open ended run in the capital.

Announcing the production, the RSC have said tickets will go on sale in May when performance dates and casting will also be confirmed. The company have not yet confirmed which London theatre the production will call home.

Adapted from Roald Dahl’s 1988 novel by Australian comic Tim Minchin and Dennis Kelly, Matilda played a Christmas season from 9 December (previews from 9 November 2010) to 30 January 2011 at the RSC’s Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.

The Stratford production starred Josie Walker, Lauren Ward, Paul Kaye and Bertie Carvel as well as three teams of children and was directed by Matthew Warchus.

Best known as an Australian comedian with a unique brand of musical comedy, Tim Minchin is a Perrier Award-winner and has become one of the biggest acts on the circuit with a global following and various sell-out tours and TV appearances. He brings his biggest live show ever to the Royal Albert Hall on 28 and 29 April complete with a with a 55 piece heritage orchestra.

Dennis Kelly‘s plays include Debris, After the End, Osama the Hero, DNA, Taking Care of Baby and Love and Money. His adaptation of The Prince of Homburg premiered at the Donmar Warehouse from July to September 2010 directed by Jonathan Munby with Charlie Cox in the title role.

Gearing up for an autumn run, one obvious berth for Matilda may be the Aldwych Theatre, where Dirty Dancing announced it would end its five-year run on 9 July 2011, prior to a two year national tour. Other theatres have been rumoured, however the RSC would not be drawn on the possibility of going into a theatre where another production is currently booking.

Matilda is designed by Rob Howell with choreography by Peter Darling, lighting by Hugh Vanstone, musical supervision and orchestration by Christopher Nightingale, sound by Simon Baker. Special effects and illusions are by Paul Kieve.

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.