Discover the story of a genius school girl who develops magical powers, using them to prank her terrible parents, as she finds solace in her friendship with her kind teacher Miss Honey. Here at Bolton School, we have put on our own highly acclaimed production of the award winning, “Matilda” the West End Smash hit musical. Our Middle School production had a lot to live up to and, as the delighted reaction of audiences showed, it didn’t disappoint.
But what was it like to part of such an incredible production? Here are some interviews from the fantastic cast. Firstly, the thoughts of Lucy McLoughlin, who gave a spellbinding performance as Matilda:
I began by asking Lucy how she managed to land such a demanding role:
“We had to do a solo singing audition in front of Mrs Wade and Miss Talbot, and also send in a tape to demonstrate our acting.” It sounds really daunting, but it clearly didn’t put her off!
When asked how she felt about landing the role, Lucy explained:
“I was very excited as I always wanted to be Matilda, but I was too tall, so getting this part felt like a dream come true!” Lucy’s performance showed why she got the part. Her confidence, energy and exquisite voice were exceptional and many audience members were moved and astonished in equal measure.
Hanna Turnbull played Miss Honey, a mild and quiet character who was often overlooked by characters such as the terrifying Miss Trunchbull (played by Eleanor Holland).
When asked what she had loved about playing this role, she said: “I love how my character is kind and affectionate and who, despite her past, is kind to her students and everyone around her.” This warmth and gentleness shone through Hanna’s performance, creating a real sense of her rapport with Matilda.
Hanna went on to explain “I feel very happy about being able to play this part. I think it is a very exciting experience and I am glad to have the opportunity to take part.”
When asked about how she felt about opening night, Hanna said:“It was very, very exciting even though it was also a little bit nerve-wracking. It was a great experience, something I will always remember.”
The cast from both Divisions commented, “The songs have been very fun to learn and we want to thank Miss Rigby as we couldn’t have done any of this without her choreography.”
Hanna described how the rehearsal process had produced such a lively production:
“It has been lots of fun and I have really enjoyed it. I have made new friends and feel quite proud about what I have achieved. ”
Sebastian Hawks was part of the backstage crew and also plays Steve, a man who is part of a mafia group from Yorkshire. Mr Wormwood sells old cars to him, pretending that they’re brand new luxury ones, which goes terribly wrong.
Being both part of the crew and an actor is very demanding, so how did he find it?
“It’s definitely really fun and exciting, it feels good to get to experience such a great thing.”
In a set like “Matilda’s” there is a lot of elements of the staging to organise and change. How did he find this experience?
“I was part of the stage manager team with five others, we were responsible with moving blocks and creating scenes with the blocks.” The team moved with precision and efficiency between scenes, reflecting the incredible professionalism of the whole performance.
When the cast were asked if they would like to take part in this kind of show again this was a typical response:
“I would definitely do this again. Most of us have already signed up for the production of The Great Gatsby.”
“Matilda” was a brilliant performance for cast and audience alike. So when you see notices for auditions around school for future performances, think about getting involved with something magical.
By Laurissa Prasad