Imagine Theatre Academy’s Matilda The Musical Jr. – 26 June 2025, University Drama Studio

Review by Claire Taranaski.

I am often a bit wary of musical theatre adaptions of well-loved novels so was delighted to find Roald Dahl meeting the music and lyrics of comedian / musician Tim Minchin is the prefect combination or an outstanding musical, paying great respect to the book (the opening number “Miracle” starts off covering the first few pages of the book – and I should know as I started reading it to my five year old daughter only a few days ago) whilst bringing the story up to date for the 21st century.

The best performances of the night came from Millie Fletcher as Matilda Wormwood, whose performance would not have been out of place leading the West End production of the show, with amazing stage confidence, charisma, chemistry with the cast, attitude and that special something which made you believe she would be capable of Matilda’s own magic and whose vocal talents showed their full stunning range in her number “Quiet”. Also up there was Imogen Wilson as Miss Honey, who Roald Dahl himself couldn’t have cast better and in a few years time I can easily see having a career in teaching and being the teacher children love as much as Matilda does or following Millie in into the West End production. She added a beautiful ending to the ensemble number “When I Grow Up” that all adults can relate to.

I must also mention Charlie Fletcher as Bruce Bogtrotter, who proved the must talented performers (like the best things) can come in the smallest packages, with so much attitude and fun and reminding me of Thomas Brodie-Sangster in Love Actually. I hope that Charlie likes chocolate cake as it looks like he will be served up it every night but also how much the ensemble supported him during the “Bruce” number.

You can’t mention Matilda without mentioning the villainous headmistress Mrs Trunchbull and although Theo Pollinger’s interpretation might not at first have been what I was expecting he made the evil ex-hammer thrower his own and his vocals were superb and reminiscence of old school Disney animated villains, joined by beautiful harmonies from the ensemble in “The Hammer”. Finally I must mention Lyndon Cole and Elinore Phillips who play Matilda’s parents Mr and Mrs Wormwood and whose performances seemed to be a clever combination of Danny Devito and Rhea Perlman’s performances in the 1996 film with the current Barclays adverts where you see the child versions of the customers and whose scenes gave me flashbacks to parts of the book I had forgotten.

The whole ensemble offer a fun combination of attitude, confidence and friendship in all their numbers and the choreography and harmonies (thanks to choreographer Izzy MacAskill and assistant choreographer Hannah Rands and singing coach Brogan Nichol) was full of attitude, vibrancy and fun in every number from when the curtain first rose to the iconic finale “Revolting Children”.

This production, directed and produced by Jonny White, will persuade any children in the audience to want to join Imagine Theatre Academy, or be their classmates (but without Miss Trunchbull) as the cast’s friendship shone through and you could tell they enjoyed every single minute of the production.

I can’t wait to see Matilda The Musical again and whether you are a fan of book, the film or have already seen and fallen in love with the musical or just want to see the future of youth musical theatre in Sheffield this is one show not to miss.