Preview: Matilda the Musical, Hippodrome

From May 1-4 Bristol Hippodrome welcomes Matilda The Musical, the multi-award-winning musical from the Royal Shakespeare Company, inspired by the beloved book by Roald Dahl, for a month-long run.

With book by Dennis Kelly and original songs by Tim Minchin, Matilda The Musical is the story of an extraordinary little girl who, armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, dares to take a stand and change her own destiny.

Winner of over 85 international awards, including 16 for Best Musical, the show also brings a trail of glowing reviews in its wake. “Writer Dennis Kelly and composer and lyricist Tim Minchin go to the top of the class with this anarchically joyous, gleefully nasty and ingenious musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s story,” enthused The Guardian, while The Sunday Times labelled the show “easily the standout musical of the decade”.

Commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company, Matilda The Musical premiered at the RSC’s Stratford-upon-Avon home in November 2010, before transferring to London’s West End in October 2011, where it opened to rave reviews. The New York production opened in April 2013 at Broadway’s Shubert Theatre and was celebrated on ten “Top Ten” lists for 2013, including TIME Magazine’s #1 Show of the Year.

Elliot Harper joined the cast in January, playing the part of Miss Trunchbull, the terrifying headmistress at Matilda’s school. He’s been associated with the show for a little longer, though. “I was in the West End production for two years, where I played the Escapologist – a very different part,” Elliot explains. “During my time there, I was asked to audition for the roles of both Mr Wormwood and Miss Trunchbull. Exactly a year after that audition I was offered the role of Miss Trunchbull on the UK and Ireland tour.”

The rehearsals must be a fun, if demanding process. Any highlights? “Meeting the Matildas [the main role is shared between four young girls, to fit around school and other commitments] is always a highlight, as they are such good fun. All of them are extremely talented performers. In the early days they definitely paved the way for me in rehearsals, they were so sweet teaching me the ropes! My other memory is getting tangled up in the ribbon [used in the song The Hammer], which is quite long. That was funny and frustrating in equal measures!”

So, Miss Trunchbull: the fearsome headmistress of Crunchem Hall Primary School, who is said to look “more like an eccentric and rather bloodthirsty follower of the stag-hounds than the headmistress of a nice school for children”. She is imaginative in her punishments, too: when the overweight and splendidly named Bruce Bogtrotter is caught stealing cake from the kitchen, she forces him to eat the cake in its entirety, which makes him so full that he cannot move. She must be good fun to play?

“She is indeed great fun to play – there is no other part like it! Primarily because of the wonderful script, with its heightened language and so many comic lines. It’s also great to play a proper villain – someone so mean and the total opposite to how people should be in real life.” What do you think is added by having her played by a man? “It works because it’s a very physical role and she is such a fearsome character – it looks great having her (him) towering over the Matildas!”

The show’s been a huge success, both critical and box office. What does Elliot put that down to? “I think because it’s a totally relatable story to all concerned. Most of us have had a struggle at some point in our lives to overcome something huge. Also, a big part of the success is down to the children in the show. They are the real stars – their talent and enthusiasm is amazing. Their involvement and presence onstage appeals to everyone, no matter what age.”

How much will fans of Roahl Dahl’s book recognise in the show? How much of a mark have Dennis Kelly and Tim Minchin put on it? “Fans will recognise many elements of the story – the production is very truthful to the book. Dennis Kelly has added a brilliant subplot (which doesn’t feature in the book) to pull the story together. Tim Minchin’s genius music and lyrics take the story to another level and heighten it in every way.”

Matilda the Musical is at Bristol Hippodrome from May 7-June 8. For more info and to book tickets, visit www.matildathemusical.com

Read more: David Bintley on Birmingham Royal Ballet’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’ (Hippodrome, May 1-4)