Everyone remembers their first time watching a show in London’s West End. Ours involved waking up at an ungodly hour and riding the Tube down to Covent Garden, to camp in the early morning chill at Cambridge Theatre before doors opened at 10am. Anything then, for the coveted £5 rush tickets to see Matilda the Musical, which despite its late start in the global musical scene, received unanimous five-star reviews all across the world. It was well worth it, even with allocated seats that were “Restricted View”. To watch a flawless repertoire of song-and-dance routines weaved seamlessly into one of our favorite childhood reads—and performed entirely by children—was enthralling.
That was back in 2013, when the musical adapting Roald Dahl’s bestseller had also just opened on Broadway at Shubert Theatre—two years after it was first commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company for The Courtyard Theatre. Later in 2011, it would go on to transfer to the West End, sweeping seven Olivier Awards including that for Best New Musical and Best Actress in a Musical. Seven years on, we’ve got fantastic news: Matilda The Musical is finally coming to Singapore.
From Feb 21-Mar 3 next year, the multi award-winning musical will make its Singapore debut at the Sands Theatre at Marina Bay Sands. The Singapore season marks the first time Matilda comes to Asia, after touring Australia and New Zealand from 2015 to 2017. Expect nothing less than a Tony Award-winning creative team—playwright Dennis Kelly, director Matthew Warchus, choreographer Peter Darling, and composer and lyricist Tim Minchin (who hasn’t got a Tony to his name, but we’ll let it slide on account of his Olivier Award). Even the production team is full of stars, with sets and costumes by Tony Award winner Rob Howell, and lighting by Hugh Vanstone.
Everyone’s favorite five-year-old evil genius. Photo credit: Helen Maybanks
It should be safe to assume everyone has read the book, or even watched the 1996 film of the same name; but even if you haven’t, the show is a guaranteed treat. Catch precocious five-year-old Matilda as she ingeniously maneuvers her way around her infuriating parents, school, and the terrifying headteacher Miss Trunchbull—along with her posse of revolting children friends.
Tickets are already available here, and Early Bird gets you 15% off till Jun 21. Every day the West End becomes just a little bit more in reach, and for that we are eternally grateful.
