South Wales Echo

MATILDA’S ON HER WAY TO CARDIFF

- RACHEL MAINWARING Reporter rachel.mainwaring@walesonlin­e.co.uk

AN AWARD-WINNING musical based on one of Roald Dahl’s best-loved creations has been unveiled as Wales Millennium Centre’s big Christmas show for 2018.

Matilda The Musical will be coming to Dahl’s hometown as part of its first ever UK and Ireland tour.

Now in its sixth year in London’s West End, the musical is the longest running production at the Cambridge Theatre, where it continues to play to packed houses.

Graeme Farrow, artistic director of Wales Millennium Centre, said: “I’m delighted that Matilda will coming to the city of her creator Roald Dahl’s birth city, Cardiff, next Christmas.

“This magical production, which has been enchanting audiences since it first opened seven years ago, will be the perfect show for the festive season.

“Our hugely successful Dahl centenary celebratio­ns in 2016 created inspiratio­nal and memorable experience­s for so many people and I am confident that Matilda the Musical will capture the hearts and imaginatio­n of our audience – in particular the younger generation for whom this might be their first theatre outing.

“We can’t wait to welcome Matilda’s cast and crew to the Centre in December 2018.”

The show will run from December 4, 2018, until January 12, 2019.

With a book by Dennis Kelly, original songs by Tim Minchin and direction by Matthew Warchus, the production tells the story of an extraordin­ary little girl who, armed with a vivid imaginatio­n and a sharp mind, dares to take a stand and change her own destiny.

The show was commission­ed by the Royal Shakespear­e Company and premiered at the RSC’s The Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon in November 2010, before transferri­ng to London’s West End in October 2011, where it opened to rave reviews. It has gone on to win 85 internatio­nal awards.

The production will be accompanie­d in each location of its UK tour by a new education programme to engage young people, inspired by Matilda The Musical.

From a travelling library of stories led by Mrs Phelps to whole school takeovers of Matilda, the RSC aims to reach over 15,000 children, in collaborat­ion with touring theatre partners.

Tickets go on sale on Monday, April 26, following a priority booking period between April 19 and 25. Prices start from £20. To find out more call the box office on 029 2063 6464 or visit www.wmc.org.uk

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 ??  ?? Matilda the Musical has been unveiled as the Wales Millennium Centre’s Christmas show for 2018
Matilda the Musical has been unveiled as the Wales Millennium Centre’s Christmas show for 2018
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