Pictures: Roald Dahl's Matilda turned into hit musical
- Published
A new musical based on the Roald Dahl story Matilda has impressed audiences in London's West End. It's gone down well with critics (the people whose job it is to review new shows and say if they think they're any good).
It has already been named best musical at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards. Reviewers described it as "a fabulous family fizzer" and "hilarious, moving and magical".
Another critic said: "It is the best new British musical since Billy Elliot." The songs in the show are written by an Australian comedian called Tim Minchin and the script is by a playwright called Dennis Kelly.
Two of the characters in Matilda are Mrs Trunchball (left) and Miss Honey (right). But Mrs Trunchball is played by a man! Actor Bertie Carvel said it's "outrageous and brilliant" to play a part like that. "It's what I love about acting", he added.
Roald Dahl's story is about Matilda Wormwood, an extraordinary child whose parents and cruel headmistress don't realise she has supernatural talents. A lot of the action is set in a school classroom.
The show has a large number of young performers. Because it's on in the West End of London nearly every night of the week, the role of Matilda is shared by four different actresses, who take turns for different performances.
Roald Dahl's story was made into a film in 1996, and another version was made for BBC Radio 4. This new musical version was first a success in Stratford-upon-Avon. It's now transferred to the West End, one of the most famous places in the world for theatre shows.