Matilda The Musical Jr.

MY Theatre`s 2024 Production at The Dukes Theatre in Lancaster, was the ever popular Matilda the Musical Jr.

I'll make the assumption that those reading this will know the story, or at least have some idea as to what happens.

On the night I saw it, the role of Matilda was taken by Ceille Shoemaker. In this role Cielle was a confident presence on stage, balancing the character’s intelligence and quiet determination with a sense of playfulness, charmingly engaging throughout. 

Her interactions with Miss Honey, played earnestly by Molly Drury were particularly effective, helping to bring warmth to the more emotional moments of the story.  

Miss Trunchbull (Abi Jones), was always a scene-stealer, played with great comedic timing and just the right level of theatrical exaggeration. The role demands a strong physical performance, and this one delivered—whether barking orders at the students or gleefully describing the horrors of the Chokey.

The contrast between Trunchbull’s over-the-top villainy and Miss Honey’s quiet sincerity made for some of the most effective moments in the show.

As Matilda`s `family`, Arman Sidhu, Matilda Gleeson and Lola Osborne more than held their own as Mr, Mrs and Michael Wormwood.

Among the ensemble, Matilda’s classmates brought enthusiasm and great energy to the production. Bruce’s (Ethan Shimwell) cake-eating moment was well executed, and group numbers such as Revolting Children had plenty of punch. The young cast handled the choreography and musical numbers well, ensuring the production kept up a lively pace. 

The set was used creatively, with visually interesting elements brought to the schoolyard scenes,giving a real sense of movement and fun, especially in the more upbeat moments of the show.

The imposing school gate was another smart choice, reinforcing the strict and unwelcoming atmosphere of Crunchem Hall, which made Matilda’s small acts of defiance all the more satisfying. 

The young cast carried themselves with real confidence, showing strong stage presence and clear commitment to their roles. 

Even if this had been an adult cast, their performances would have been impressive.

Their ability to balance the humour, emotion, and high-energy musical numbers was a credit to both the performers and the direction behind them, and although I didn't see them perform, I`ve heard great things about Gracie Davis and Storm Burton in their performances as Matilda and Miss Honey.

The production showcased a talented young cast who delivered a performance full of energy, character, and well-rehearsed staging. 

With clever use of set pieces and solid direction, this was a production that clearly had a lot of hard work behind it, and the results paid off. 

Many think that the greatest perk of being a rep is getting to see so many productions a year - whilst this is part of it, the best part is over the years seeing people grow, not just in stature, but in confidence, talent and stage awareness- it`s hard to believe how far some of these performers have come in such a short time, and is a testament to the hard work and time MY Theatre is putting into helping them achieve and believe.
 

Musical Director, Claire Allcock had obviously worked really hard with the cast, and it showed.

Director/Choreographer, Sophie Jade Buter - take a bow on a slick production

Overall, this was a well-paced and engaging production with strong performances and creative staging. The directors and cast alike should be proud of what they achieved—it was an enjoyable and polished performance that was well worth watching.

 

Thank You MY Theatre, for your hospitality and invite.

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