# Matilda the Musical
**Matilda the Musical** (also styled **Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical**) is a stage musical adapted from [Roald Dahl](https://www.edgepedia.org/roald-dahl)'s 1988 children's novel *Matilda*, with a book by Dennis Kelly, music and lyrics by [Tim Minchin](https://www.edgepedia.org/tim-minchin), and direction by Matthew Warchus, produced by the [Royal Shakespeare Company](https://www.edgepedia.org/royal-shakespeare-company) (RSC). It premiered at the RSC's Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon in 2010, transferred to London's Cambridge Theatre in October 2011, and opened on Broadway at the Shubert Theatre in April 2013. Its seven Olivier Awards in 2012 set a record, and by its fifteenth London year it ranked as the 10th longest-running musical in West End history.[1](https://www.rsc.org.uk/news/matilda-the-musical-celebrates-15-years-on-stage) • [2](https://uk.matildathemusical.com/about/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Source novel | Roald Dahl's *Matilda*, first published in 1988 with illustrations by Quentin Blake[3](https://www.timminchin.com/matilda/) |
| Creative team | Book Dennis Kelly; music and lyrics Tim Minchin; director Matthew Warchus; design Rob Howell; choreography Peter Darling[1](https://www.rsc.org.uk/news/matilda-the-musical-celebrates-15-years-on-stage) |
| Premiere | Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon; first public performance 9 November 2010; official opening 9 December 2010[3](https://www.timminchin.com/matilda/) |
| West End | Cambridge Theatre from October 2011, opening night 24 November 2011; still running, 10th longest-running West End musical[2](https://uk.matildathemusical.com/about/) • [1](https://www.rsc.org.uk/news/matilda-the-musical-celebrates-15-years-on-stage) |
| Broadway | Shubert Theatre, opened 11 April 2013; closed 1 January 2017 after 37 previews and 1,555 performances; four Tony Awards[3](https://www.timminchin.com/matilda/) |
| Awards | Seven Olivier Awards (2012, a Guinness record); 101 international awards including 24 for Best Musical[1](https://www.rsc.org.uk/news/matilda-the-musical-celebrates-15-years-on-stage) |
| Reach | Over 12 million people across more than 100 cities worldwide; more than 10,000 performances[1](https://www.rsc.org.uk/news/matilda-the-musical-celebrates-15-years-on-stage) |
## Story
The musical tells the story of Matilda, a girl unloved by her cruel parents, who impresses her schoolteacher Miss Honey and contends with the headmistress [Miss Trunchbull](https://www.edgepedia.org/miss-trunchbull).[4](https://www.mtishows.com/roald-dahls-matilda-the-musical) The RSC describes the heroine as "strong and determined" with "a vivid imagination."[1](https://www.rsc.org.uk/news/matilda-the-musical-celebrates-15-years-on-stage)
## Production history
**Stratford-upon-Avon, 2010–11.** After a dress rehearsal on 6 November 2010, *Matilda, A Musical* played its first public performance on 9 November 2010 at the Courtyard Theatre and officially opened on 9 December 2010 to critical acclaim and sold-out performances; the Stratford run ended on 30 January 2011.[3](https://www.timminchin.com/matilda/) • [2](https://uk.matildathemusical.com/about/)
**West End, 2011.** The RSC confirmed the transfer on 30 March 2011. Previews at the Cambridge Theatre began on 25 October 2011, with opening night on 24 November 2011; the licensing agency's history notes that heavy construction on the theater pushed the opening back to that date. The Cambridge Theatre has remained the show's London home since.[3](https://www.timminchin.com/matilda/) • [5](https://www.mtishows.com/show-history/1913) • [2](https://uk.matildathemusical.com/about/)
**Broadway, 2013–2017.** The production opened at the Shubert Theatre on 11 April 2013, co-produced with the Dodgers, with only small changes to the material. When the production transferred, [Bertie Carvel](https://www.edgepedia.org/bertie-carvel) and Lauren Ward came along with it, again playing Miss Trunchbull and Miss Honey. The run ended on 1 January 2017 after 37 previews and 1,555 regular performances.[2](https://uk.matildathemusical.com/about/) • [5](https://www.mtishows.com/show-history/1913) • [3](https://www.timminchin.com/matilda/)
**Tours and international productions.** North American and Australian tours began in 2015, co-produced by the Dodgers and Louise Withers respectively. Later productions included a 2018 UK and Ireland tour, the first non-English-language production in Seoul in 2018, a 2018 international tour opening in [Johannesburg](https://www.edgepedia.org/johannesburg) and Singapore, a first Japan run in 2023, and a 2023–2024 international tour that opened in [Tel Aviv](https://www.edgepedia.org/tel-aviv) and concluded in [Abu Dhabi](https://www.edgepedia.org/abu-dhabi) in 2024.[2](https://uk.matildathemusical.com/about/) In June 2024 the tour across Asia and the UAE made Abu Dhabi the show's 100th city; the United States alone accounts for more than 50 cities, including New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.[6](https://www.rsc.org.uk/news/matilda-the-musical-performed-in-100-cities)
**Second UK and Ireland tour, 2025–2027.** Following its first tour in 2018–19, the musical returned to venues across the UK and Ireland for the 2025/6 season, opening at Leicester Curve on 6 October 2025, with tickets on sale through January 2027.[7](https://tour.matildathemusical.com/) • [1](https://www.rsc.org.uk/news/matilda-the-musical-celebrates-15-years-on-stage)
## Reception and awards
The Stratford and West End productions drew early honors: the 2011 Peter Hepple Award from the [Critics' Circle](https://www.edgepedia.org/critics-circle), the Ned Sherrin Award at the [Evening Standard Theatre Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/evening-standard-theatre-awards), and Best Musical Production and Best Performance at the 2011 Theatre Awards UK.[2](https://uk.matildathemusical.com/about/) In 2012 the show won four Whatsonstage.com Awards and seven Olivier Awards, entering the 2013 Guinness Book of World Records for most Olivier wins and breaking a 20-year-old record held by *Nicholas Nickleby*.[2](https://uk.matildathemusical.com/about/) • [1](https://www.rsc.org.uk/news/matilda-the-musical-celebrates-15-years-on-stage)
On Broadway the musical won four [Tony Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/tony-awards) at the 67th Tony Awards on 9 June 2013: Gabriel Ebert for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical (as Mr Wormwood), Dennis Kelly for Best Book of a Musical, Rob Howell for Best Scenic Design, and Hugh Vanstone for Best Lighting Design. The production also earned a Tony Honor for Excellence honoring the four young actresses sharing the role of Matilda, along with five Drama Desk awards and two Outer Critics Circle awards.[3](https://www.timminchin.com/matilda/) • [2](https://uk.matildathemusical.com/about/) [The Australian](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-australian) production won all 13 [Helpmann Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/helpmann-awards) for which it was nominated, setting a new record.[2](https://uk.matildathemusical.com/about/)
Cumulatively, the RSC counts 101 international awards, including 24 for Best Musical.[1](https://www.rsc.org.uk/news/matilda-the-musical-celebrates-15-years-on-stage)
## By the numbers
- Broadway: 37 previews and 1,555 regular performances at the Shubert Theatre, April 2013 to January 2017.[3](https://www.timminchin.com/matilda/)
- Worldwide: more than 10,000 performances and over 12 million spectators across more than 100 cities.[1](https://www.rsc.org.uk/news/matilda-the-musical-celebrates-15-years-on-stage)
- West End: in its fifteenth London year the show was the 10th longest-running musical in West End history, with tickets on sale through January 2027.[1](https://www.rsc.org.uk/news/matilda-the-musical-celebrates-15-years-on-stage)
- Touring: reached its 100th city in June 2024, one of the widest-toured productions in the RSC's history.[6](https://www.rsc.org.uk/news/matilda-the-musical-performed-in-100-cities)
## Licensing and amateur productions
Music Theatre International (MTI) licenses the show, which had won 47 international awards at the time of its catalog listing, and provides pre-approved rental materials of select songs for symphonic concert performance.[4](https://www.mtishows.com/roald-dahls-matilda-the-musical) A shortened schools and amateur version, *Matilda the Musical (in 20 minutes)*, was released from 4 March 2014 for performers aged 16 or younger in the UK and Ireland only, ahead of an MTI Junior Version.[3](https://www.timminchin.com/matilda/)
## Film adaptation
A new film adaptation premiered at the [BFI London Film Festival](https://www.edgepedia.org/bfi-london-film-festival) in October 2022, was released by Sony across the UK and Ireland, and premiered worldwide on Netflix in December 2022, with the UK Netflix release in summer 2023.[2](https://uk.matildathemusical.com/about/) The film was directed by Matthew Warchus, produced by [Eric Fellner](https://www.edgepedia.org/eric-fellner) and Tim Bevan, with Dennis Kelly adapting the RSC production for the screen and original music and lyrics by Tim Minchin.[8](https://www.sonypictures.co.uk/movies/roald-dahls-matilda-musical)
## References
1. [Matilda The Musical becomes 10th longest running musical on the West End, Royal Shakespeare Company](https://www.rsc.org.uk/news/matilda-the-musical-celebrates-15-years-on-stage)
2. [About the Show, Matilda The Musical (London, UK)](https://uk.matildathemusical.com/about/)
3. [The Matilda The Musical Story, Tim Minchin](https://www.timminchin.com/matilda/)
4. [Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical, Music Theatre International](https://www.mtishows.com/roald-dahls-matilda-the-musical)
5. [Matilda the Musical Show History, Music Theatre International](https://www.mtishows.com/show-history/1913)
6. [Matilda the Musical performed in 100 cities, Royal Shakespeare Company](https://www.rsc.org.uk/news/matilda-the-musical-performed-in-100-cities)
7. [Matilda The Musical, Official UK & Ireland Tour 2025/6](https://tour.matildathemusical.com/)
8. [Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical, Sony Pictures United Kingdom](https://www.sonypictures.co.uk/movies/roald-dahls-matilda-musical)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musical works and recordings › Compositions and songs › Musical theater works › Contemporary book musicals › 2010s and later musicals*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license