Matilda adds two new stars

Published 16 March 2015

Matilda The Musical will add a pair of revolting children to its ranks this week, when Anna-Louise Knight and Lara McDonnell join Matilda Shapland and Violet Tucker sharing the title role of the acclaimed production.

The pair of child stars joins the cast of the hit London show on 17 March, alongside a gaggle of new young performers playing the pupils of the notorious Crunchem Hall, a school which would almost certainly fail an OFSTED inspection.

Based on Roald Dahl’s much-loved children’s story, Matilda The Musical is the tale of a young girl who is neglected by her parents and ill-treated by her hideous headmistress, the beastly Trunchbull. Determined to keep her spirits high, she finds her own way of fighting back that gets a big boost when she discovers some rather special powers.

Joining the cast of incredibly talented youngsters on the stage of the Cambridge Theatre are adult performers Craige Els, James Clyde, Haley Flaherty and Kay Murphy.

Produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company, Matilda The Musical, which features music and lyrics by acclaimed comedian Tim Minchin and a book by Dennis Kelly, has now been seen by more than 1.5 million people in London. When it first opened in the West End following fantastic success in Stratford-upon-Avon, the production won a record-breaking seven Olivier Awards including the much coveted Best New Musical statuette.

It has been shortlisted for the This Morning Audience Award at the Olivier Awards 2015 with MasterCard. You can help the show with its quest to win again, or lend your support to Billy Elliot The Musical, Jersey Boys or Wicked, by voting here.

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