Matilda the Musical takes place in a village in England and is based on the 1988 novel by Roald Dahl. The girl, Matilda, comes into the world quite pathetically – without celebration or joy, or even the adoration of her parents. But miraculously, Matilda does come into the world with brain power which leads her to read scores of books. Through hundreds of characters inspiring her by finding and following their voices, books give Matilda a hopeful and comforting message: “you are not alone”. She figures that she is worth quite an awful lot, and stories of other people are her savior against the injustices that surround her. “She traveled all over the world while sitting in her little room in an English village.” “You seemed so far away,” Miss Honey whispered, awestruck. “Oh, I was. I was flying past the stars on silver wings,” Matilda said. “It was wonderful.”

Dahl empowers the children in his stories to take hold of their own destinies, invoke radical change, and reject the confines of the world. Consider Charlie inside the chocolate factory, James and his giant peach, and Danny, as a champion of the world. These are not helpless victims, rather they are the heroes of their own lives. Matilda seizes her own destiny and brings her friends along for the thrilling ride. She is our hero!

The world of Matilda the Musical is created for us by the egocentric and naïve brains of children. The world isn’t necessarily exaggerated, although that may be the effect; rather characters and elements of the environment are oversimplified; condensed to the one or two qualities relevant to children’s existence. For example, Dahl named characters to unmistakably identify the personality traits that are important to Matilda. This is her story, after all.

I hope you fall in love with the child in you who also speaks up for love and justice as you are immersed in the revolting world of Matilda the Musical.

Emily Wadley – Director