The Courtyard chapter of ‘Matilda’ comes to an end, with an Award
by Shell 27th Jan 2011 | 16 comments
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Matilda, A Musical ends its extremely successful run at the Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon this weekend, with a final performance on Sunday 30th January, at 3pm.
It looks very hopeful for a London transfer but at the moment there are only numerous rumours. The first place to hear about this will be via the RSC mailing list. You can sign up to that here and of course we will be excitedly announcing any news too.
Earlier this week Matilda was awarded the Critics’ Circle Award for Best Musical. These awards recognise excellence for theatre throughout the UK and are selected by a group of professional theatre critics. The Peter Hepple Award for Best Musical (new or revival) was presented by Matt Wolf, at the Prince of Wales Theatre on Tuesday and was accepted by director Matthew Warchus and some of the children from the cast.
The production was sold out over Christmas and throughout January following the wonderful reviews it received after opening night on December 9th 2010:
The Telegraph *****
“A smash hit… this show will be unstoppable.”
“Director Matthew Warchus, … brings the show to life with a buzzing vitality that proves irresistible…But the biggest laurels should go to Dennis Kelly, whose script has both deepened the emotion of Dahl’s story while adding loads of splendid jokes of his own, and Tim Minchin, the Aussie comedian, who has written the music and lyrics.
The songs fizz with humour and great take-home melodies. Kelly and Minchin suddenly look like the brightest prospects for British musical theatre since Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.”
WhatsOnStage.com *****
“Tim Minchin’s music and lyrics sparkle with wit and energy, demonstrating a touch of genius to rival that of the eponymous Matilda. Complemented by Dennis Kelly’s book, they make up a piece which is by turns riotously funny and gut-wrenchingly poignant …, all brought vividly to life by Matthew Warchus’ masterful direction.”
More reviews here.
16 Comments
Pamela Resnick on 4th of February 2011
Saw you on CONAN…please come to Portland Oregon as soon as possible (we need you!!).
Melanie on 1st of February 2011
We saw Matilda, absolute brilliant, you should take it to the Westend.
Carole Moreton on 30th of January 2011
We saw the show on New Year’s Day – truly magical and I think the best musical we’ve ever seen. We would love to see it again and this time bring all the grandchildren. A fantastic achievement for all concerned. Well done Tim!
Pablo Raybould on 30th of January 2011
Hi Tim,
We met a couple of times during your stay here with Matilda. My partner Jenny is the wardrobe dept on it. Although I was acting in panto for two months during it I still managed to see it a few times and loved it, so many elements touched me and so many parts of the music and lyrics. Bertie was outstanding. Well done Tim, you should be very proud. Hope to meet you again when it returns!!! Jenny is already very sad that today is her last show. She’s going to miss a truly lovely cast and a joy of a show.
Pablo.
sheen on 29th of January 2011
congrats on the critics circle award, totally deserved, we took our ten year old son to see Matilda at christmas and it was totally stunning. I laughed so much i cried and then cried some more. Hope the show gets to london but also hope it comes back to Stratford.
Amanda Sharman on 28th of January 2011
This show is stunning and if you are adult male thinking it is not for you, ignore your caution and go, you’ll love it too! Tim has created atruly stunning show.
Lou on 28th of January 2011
Wonderful, wonderful show which richly deserves all of the praise it has received. No wonder you are so proud of this one Mr Minchin!
Elaine (elainepixie) on 27th of January 2011
Managed to see it four times before we ran out of family members to take… It’s just wonderful and richly deserves continued success.
Sue Gillett on 27th of January 2011
We will definitely go to London if and when Matilda goes the West End. Until then hoping for a cast recording.
James on 27th of January 2011
The nice lady in the RSC shop informed me that a soundtrack is planned to be released at the end of the month. She wouldn’t lie to me would she?
Nicola on 27th of January 2011
I traveled over from Milan (where I’m an Australian student on exchange) to see it before Christmas, and I’ll be there again for the final performance. LOVED IT SO MUCH. Roald Dahl (especially Matilda) was my childhood, and Tim was my teenage years, basically, so this speaks DIRECTLY TO MY SOUL :’)
Given everyone else is doing it, I’ll reiterate the question regarding when we’re getting a cast recording. I can’t bear not sharing this with my friends at home in Perth.
anya on 27th of January 2011
I THINK YOU SHOULD TOUR IT.
to birmingham especially.
and do a soundtrack.
especially a soundtrack.
Alison on 27th of January 2011
Pleeease take it to London. We couldn’t get tickets for Stratford and my 9 yr old would LOVE it.
Jo Dean on 27th of January 2011
Im seeing the show again on Saturday night. Travelling up tomorrow for a weekend in Stratford Upon Avon. Couldnt bear not to see the show again. And yes please, when is the CD coming out?
Shell on 27th of January 2011
Hi Tim
Again I’d recommend signing up to the RSC mailing list via the link above for information on all things in Matilda’s future but we’ll announce on here too, as soon as there is any confirmed news about a cast recording.
Sx
Tim Keating on 27th of January 2011
The big question (especially for those of us in the US, for whom seeing the show isn’t really plausible) is “when will we see the cast album”?