"Sometimes you have to be a little bit naughty"
Matilda Wormwood is the title character in Matilda the Musical. Because of the size of the role, four girls currently play Matilda in the West End, on Broadway and in Australia and three girls currently play the role in the First US National Tour.
Character
She's extraordinarily intelligent for her age, and loves for books, unlike her television-addicted parents. She eventually develops a close bond with her teacher, Miss Honey, the first relatable adult to recognize her abilities. She's the first person to stand up to her fearsome headmistress, Miss Trunchbull.
Unlike the film, the musical adaptation emphasizes her imagination and ability to tell stories, rather than her telekenesis. She frequently visits Mrs. Phelps at the library to tell her the story of an incredible Acrobat and Escapologist. Throughout the story, she discusses their new feat: "The Burning Woman Hurling Through the Air With Dynamite in Her Hair Over Sharks and Spikey Objects Caught By the Man Locked in the Cage."
Trivia
- The four original West End Matildas (Kerry, Sophia, Cleo and Eleanor) shared the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical in 2012. Eleanor Worthington-Cox, at age 10, is the youngest recipient of the award ever.
- The four original Broadway Matildas (Oona, Sophia, Bailey and Milly) were ineligible for a Tony nomination for their work, and instead received a Tony Honor for Excellence in Theatre.
- The longest running Matilda is currently, Lara Wollington.
- Several Matildas have played the role in two different productions,
-Kerry Ingram (Stratford and West End) -Tori Feinstein (Broadway and Acrobat Tour) -Alannah Parfett (Sydney and Melbourne) -Molly Barwick (Sydney and Melbourne) -Sarah McKinley Austin (Acrobat Tour and Toronto -Tiana Mirra (Melbourne and Brisbane) -Hannah Levinson (Toronto and US Tour) -Jenna Weir (Toronto and US Tour) -Jaime Maclean (Toronto and US Tour) -Venice Harris (Melbourne and Brisbane) -Izellah Connelly (Melbourne and Brisbane)
- Matilda delivers over 2,500 words in the show
- Matilda commands the stage for around 1 hour and 35 minutes
- Matilda solo's in 7 songs
- Matilda's have been born in 7 different countries
Current Matildas
West End
- Clara Read (March 2016–)
- Zaris-Angel Hator (March 2016–)
- Sara Sheen (September 2016–)
- Abbie Vena (September 2016–)
Australia
- Izellah Connelly (November 2016–)
- Annabella Cowley (November 2016–)
- Eva Murawski (November 2016–)
- Venice Harris (November 2016–)
US Tour
- Hannah Levinson (July 2016–)
- Jamie Maclean (July 2016–)
- Jenna Weir (July 2016-)
Past Matildas
Stratford Upon Avon
- Adrianna Bertola (November 2010–January 2011)
- Kerry Ingram (November 2010–January 2011) (continued onto West End)
- Josie Griffiths (November 2010–January 2011)
West End
- Kerry Ingram (October 2011–April 2012)
- Sophia Kiely (October 2011–April 2012)
- Cleo Demetriou (October 2011-August 2012)
- Eleanor Worthington-Cox (October 2011–August 2012)
- Jade Marner (April–August 2012)
- Isobelle Molloy (April–August 2012) (original West End cast as Amanda)
- Hayley Canham (April 2012–March 2013)
- Lucy-Mae Beacock (September 2012–May 2013)
- Chloe Hawthorn (August 2012–September 2013)
- Lara Wollington (August 2012–September 2013)
- Elise Blake (March 2013–March 2014)
- Cristina Fray (March 2013–March 2014)
- Georgia Pemberton (September 2013–April 2014)
- Lollie McKenzie (September 2013–September 2014)
- Cara Jenkins (March–October 2014)
- Tasha Chapple (March 2014–March 2015)
- Lottie Sicilia (March 2014–April 2015)
- Matilda Shapland (September 2014–September 2015)
- Violet Tucker (September 2014–October 2015)
- Lizzie Wells (September 2015–March 2016
- Lara McDonnell (March 2015–March 2016)
- Anna-Louise Knight (March 2015–April 2016)
- Evie Hone (September 2015–September 2016)
- Emily-May Stephenson (March–October 2016)
Broadway
- Oona Laurence (March–December 2013)
- Sophia Gennusa (March–December 2013)
- Bailey Ryon (March 2013–January 2014)
- Milly Shapiro (March 2013–January 2014)
- Paige Brady (December 2013–August 2014)
- Ripley Sobo (January–August 2014)
- Ava Ulloa (January–September 2014)
- Gabriella Pizzolo (December 2013–September 2014)
- Brooklyn Shuck (August 2014–May 2015)
- Eliza Holland Madore (September 2014–June 2015)
- Fina Strazza (August 2014–July 2015)
- Tori Feinstein (September 2014–July 2015)
- Rileigh McDonald (July 2015–April 2016)
- Mimi Ryder (July 2015–April 2016)
- Alexandra Vlachos (July 2015–May 2016)
- Mattea Conforti (July 2015–May 2016)
Aviva Winick (April 2016-September 2016) Ava Briglia (April 2016-December 2016) Willow McCarthy (May 2016-January 2017)
Acrobat Tour
- Mia Sinclair Jenness (May–November 2015)
- Mabel Tyler (May–December 2015)
- Tori Feinstein (December 2015)
- Gabby Gutierrez (May 2015–January 2016)
- Savannah Grace Elmer (December 2015–June 2016)
- Lily Brooks O'Briant (January 2016–June 2016)
- Sarah McKinley Austin (January 2016–June 2016)
Sydney
- Molly Barwick (July 2015-February 2016)
- Sasha Rose (July 2015-February 2016)
- Georgia Taplin (July 2015-February 2016)
- Bella Thomas (August 2015-February 2016)
Melbourne
- Ingrid Torelli (March 2016-November 2016)
- Alannah Parfett (March 2016-November 2016)
- Dusty Bursill (April 2016-November 2016)
- Tiana Mirra (April 2016-November 2016)
Toronto
- Sarah McKinley Austin (July 2016)
- Hannah Levinson (June 2016-January 2017)
- Jenna Weir (June 2016-January 2017)
- Jaime Maclean (July 2016-January 2017)
- NOTE; Hannah, Jenna and Jaime carried on into the US Tour Production.
Songs
Matilda performs in:
- "Miracle"
- "Naughty" (solo)
Matilda as played by Kerry Ingram
- "Naughty (Reprise)"
- "Bruce"
- "When I Grow Up" (solo)
- "I'm Here"
- "The Smell of Rebellion"
- "Quiet" (solo)
- "My House"
