Matilda The Musical (West End)
Open run 2h 40m
Matilda The Musical (West End)
88

Matilda The Musical (West End) London Reviews and Tickets

88%
(750 Ratings)
Positive
92%
Mixed
5%
Negative
3%
Members say
Entertaining, Delightful, Clever, Enchanting, Absorbing

About the Show

A magical stage adaptation of Roald Dahl's popular children's book. Winner of 7 Olivier Awards.

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Show-Score Member Reviews (480)

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59 Reviews | 0 Followers
100
Enchanting, Delightful, Clever, Absorbing, Ambitious

See it if you like Dahl

Don't see it if you don't like Dahl

56 Reviews | 13 Followers
100
Delightful, Entertaining, Intelligent, Clever

See it if You enjoy a Roald Dahl book turned into musical, which is colourful with high energy, with an amazing children and adult cast

Don't see it if You are triggered by abuse, abandonment, bully

55 Reviews | 5 Followers
100
Must see, Epic, Great acting, Great singing, Ambitious

See it if you like the film

Don't see it if you are expecting to be exact like the film

58 Reviews | 5 Followers
98
Enchanting, Delightful, Clever, Ambitious, Absorbing

See it if You want to see the best show around.

Don't see it if You don't like watching kids be amazing?!

85 Reviews | 5 Followers
98
Must see, Great staging, Entertaining, Delightful, Clever

See it if you great family shows

Don't see it if you hate the story

59 Reviews | 1 Follower
95
Brilliant, Entertaining, Delightful, Clever, Absorbing

See it if You want to see a well-known story delivered in such a clever way. You are a fan of incredible choreography.

Don't see it if You don’t have an imagination. You’re not prepared to channel your inner-child.

51 Reviews | 2 Followers
95
Fun, Intelligent, Entertaining, Clever, Absorbing

See it if You love a wild, clever well-staged musical full of talented children

Don't see it if You can’t willingly suspend your disbelief of fantastical phenomena

112 Reviews | 6 Followers
93
Great staging, Great writing, Enchanting, Delightful, Clever

See it if you want an absolutely charming time at the theatre. Minchin's words are fantastic, the staging is great and you will be uplifted.

Don't see it if you are not a fan of Dahl or Minchin. The fantasy elements will annoy you. You don't like children.

Critic Reviews (9)

The Stage (UK)
March 16th, 2018

"Warchus’ peerless production...is spectacularly staged. It feels both intimate and larger-than-life as we see the world through the unique prism of the older-than-her-years Matilda, a voracious reader and loner who is neglected by her parents...The expertly drilled cast of youngsters playing Matilda’s friends are playful and bring an infectious sense of fun and jeopardy to a show that is full of both qualities."
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Time Out London
January 1st, 2012

"As for the children, they are irresistible, stomping and skipping through Peter Darling's angular choreography, thrilling young audiences and push-pulling grown-ups from tears to gasps to laughter with such relentless energy that it leaves you breathless, exhilarated and marvelling at the many ways in which Minchin, Kelly, and Dahl demonstrate that growing up is a lifelong endeavour. For kids, yes, but also for the children that we all remain at heart, this is wise, wicked, glorious fun."
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The Guardian (UK)
November 25th, 2011

"Writer Dennis Kelly and composer and lyricist Tim Minchin go to the top of the class with this anarchically joyous, gleefully nasty and ingenious musical adaptation...It captures all the original's delicious nastiness...but it also celebrates the solace of books and the transforming powers of the imagination...The production has a razor-sharp tongue-in-cheek edge...Seldom has the inner rage of the hurt and powerless child been so effectively dramatised."
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The London Evening Standard
November 25th, 2011

"At the heart of this satisfyingly fresh adaptation of a cherished Roald Dahl story are Australian comedian Tim Minchin's music and lyrics, which ooze humour without veering towards smugness...This is true family entertainment. Children will enjoy its blissful mix of fantasy and irreverence and adults will savour it for these same reasons as well as a host of different ones. This generous, big-hearted piece is already being spoken of as one of the best new British musicals in years."
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Financial Times (UK)
November 26th, 2011

"The creative team behind this RSC musical (first seen in Stratford last year) pitches the tone beautifully. They catch Dahl’s peppery, mischievous, dark imagination and tell his story of the gifted Matilda, her ghastly parents and her wicked headmistress with real zest. They create a show that appeals to children with its monsters and mess, and to adults with its message that reading is cool...On transfer, it has become overly shrill in places...But it’s still dark, daring and a lot of fun."
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The Telegraph (UK)
November 25th, 2011

"It is the best new British musical since 'Billy Elliot'...Dennis Kelly, who has adapted Roald Dahl’s famous story for the stage, has previously been responsible for some of the most violent and depressing plays I have ever endured. Here, in a spectacular transformation, he has discovered joy, humour and tenderness, and his script actually improves and deepens Dahl’s original...Matthew Warchus’s thrilling, warm-hearted production...constantly combines comedy with a sense of wonder."
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London Theatre
November 24th, 2011

So, I would not go quite as far as my neighbour in describing it as 'brilliant', but Matilda the Musical is nevertheless hugely enjoyable and cracking Christmas fun.
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The Arts Desk
November 25th, 2011

How they get such performances from such youngsters is the RSC’s own miracle. Mind you, they’ve got form on their side: Les Misérables anyone? Matilda might just have similar legs.
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