Tag: Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical arrives in town to work its magic tonight

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Scarlett Cecil strikes the iconic Matilda pose front of Manchester Central Library as the smash hit show lands at Manchester’s Palace Theatre today (Photo Credit – Phil Tragen Photography)

The widely-anticipated Matilda The Musical has finally arrived in Manchester for an 11-week run at thePalace Theatre and to mark the occasion, Scarlett Cecil who is one of the four young actresses sharing the title role, popped down to Manchester Central Library to strike the iconic Matilda pose in front of the landmark city-centre building.

The first show of the Royal Shakespeare Company production based on the much-loved Roald Dahl story in the city will be tonight, Tuesday 18th September.

Sophia Ally, Annalise Bradbury, Scarlett Cecil and Nicola Turner will share the title role of Matilda in Manchester. The adult cast includes Craige Els who, having played Miss Trunchbull in the West End for three years from 2014 to 2017, has returned to the role for the UK and Ireland tour. Carly Thoms plays Miss Honey alongside Sebastien Torkia and Rebecca Thornhill as Mr and Mrs Wormwood.

Matilda The Musical has now been seen by eight million people worldwide, having toured to over 65 cities and played more than 6000 performances in the West End, on Broadway and on tour across North America, the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. Matilda The Musical now has its first non-English language production at the LG Arts Centre in Seoul, South Korea which opened earlier this month.

The show is written by Dennis Kelly, with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, and direction by Matthew Warchus. The production is designed by Rob Howell, with choreography by Peter Darling, orchestrations, additional music and musical supervision by Christopher Nightingale, lighting by Hugh Vanstone, sound by Simon Baker and the special effects and illusions are by Paul Kieve.

REVIEW: George’s Marvellous Medicine@ The Opera House, Manchester

georges-marvellous-medicine-by-birmingham-stage-company-photo-by-mark-douet-_80a8139For any child who is a bit down in the dumps or for any adult fed up with the news at the moment, George’s Marvellous Medicine is the perfect tonic.

Roald Dahl’s classic story about an amazing youngster who  accidentally comes up with an incredible invention when trying to teach his disgustingly grumpy granny a lesson, is beautifully brought to life at the Opera House.

Adapted by David Wood, the country’s leading children’s playwrights, the show is one of Dahl’s funniest and most exciting stories all about a young boy who makes a marvellous new medicine to cure his grandmother of her terrifying temper.

But when his grandmother drinks his special new potion the results are explosive and the most incredible things begin to happen – it’s the start of George’s amazing adventure!

There is lots of raucous fun, featuring giant chickens, giant grannies and oodles of outrageous over-the-top antics to keep children entertained between the ages of 4 and 100.

Ed Thorpe is excellent as George, and Debroah Vale is superb as the obnoxious Grandma and the special effects are simple but impressive making for a show which does justice to Dahl’s genius.