School Production 2025 - Matilda - Review

I was fortunate to have tickets for the final performance of this year’s school production, Tim Minchin’s Matilda Jr., but I expect all the performances were as good. I took my daughter, and some elderly thespians… a good range of ages! We all LOVED it. Most of us had seen it in the West End, and my oldest guest (over 80) declared it was much better than that (he’d not even liked it before…)

Knowing the cast members does lend another angle, especially if I’ve not seen them for a few years, but in many ways it makes me more critical… But there was nothing to criticise here.

Every single performer was spot on… from the “stars” to the youngest ensemble members. Amazing singing, dancing and acting from everyone. Immaculate team-work. Excellent choreography (bravo Libby Field) and lighting (well done James Rowland-Hill). The sound was good; I heard every word thanks to a good balance, and articulation from the singers.

Amelia Martin shone as an assured, sparky Matilda, singing beautifully, and presenting a lovely rounded character. The rest of the Wormwood family gave us a lot to laugh about… Maddie Sales as the ghastly mother, (played as if Maddie herself was about 35…) Benji Sydenham as the loud, deal-wielding father, and Matt Gough as the dim-witted son… plus the hip-moving Rudolpho played by Franklin Joyner. Cody Strong was a magnificent Miss Trunchbull, easily making up for his lack of weight and ugliness in his ability to show his/her authority in the way he spoke and strutted around the stage. Miss Honey (Libby Field), and Miss Phelps, the librarian (Merryn Pearse) both showed empathy and compassion in their less showy roles. Saskia-Jane Howard and Ryan Taylor poignantly re-enacted Miss Honey’s parents’ sad story. As I’ve mentioned, the ensemble work was exemplary, and so together that, quite rightly, no-one should be singled out… but one un-credited member did have a few solo moments which he performed with gusto and natural flair; Asa Faux-Bowyer.

I can’t think that anyone left the “theatre” without a huge grin… so many moments continued to come to mind as I sang myself to sleep that night.

A huge congratulations to all involved, and in particular to MD, Ms M Hollman, and director, Mrs V Cackett.