Roald Dahl’s beloved heroine sparkles in Matilda the Musical at Theatre Royal Plymouth
By Bracken Jelier
Last night I finally had the chance to see the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Matilda the Musical as it opened at Theatre Royal Plymouth — a title I’ve loved on page and screen but had somehow never experienced live. It was worth the wait.
From the outset, the show bursts with Dahl-esque mischief, gleeful rebellion and razor-sharp wit. What struck me most was the sheer calibre of the young performers, who carry the production with a mix of stamina, precision and emotional depth that would impress in actors twice their age.
The roles of Matilda and Bruce are shared equally across four young performers in rotation. At last night’s performance, Matilda was played by Olivia Ironmonger and Bruce by Oisin-Luca Pegg — both exceptional. Olivia Ironmonger delivered a performance of clarity and confidence, her voice pure and assured, her articulation immaculate, and her presence radiating Matilda’s fierce intelligence and irrepressible imagination. Oisin-Luca Pegg brought cheeky charm and comic timing to Bruce, winning huge audience affection.
Comedy is delivered in abundance. Richard Hurst’s Miss Trunchbull is a grotesque triumph — a tightly coiled blend of menace, absurdity and physical comedy, powered by tiny, twitching details and a perfectly exaggerated costume. The Wormwoods (Adam Stafford and Rebecca Thornhill) are riotously dreadful, while the flamenco-infused dance partner earns some of the biggest laughs of the night with knowingly melodramatic flair. The humour is layered beautifully: broad, anarchic and physical for children; slyly nuanced for adults.
Yet the show also lands its moments of emotional tenderness. The storytelling sequence quietly captivated the audience, and the interval arrived far sooner than expected — always a sign of being fully absorbed.
By the finale, the entire Lyric auditorium was on its feet for a full standing ovation. It’s rare to feel such a collective surge of joy and appreciation — and a reminder that, despite its family appeal, Matilda is far from “just” a children’s show. Adults going without children will enjoy it every bit as much as families.
Based on Dahl’s beloved novel, Matilda the Musical has now been seen by more than 12 million people across 100 cities worldwide and has earned over 100 global awards, including 24 for Best Musical. Written by Dennis Kelly with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, it is directed by Matthew Warchus with design by Rob Howell and choreography by Peter Darling.
Its arrival in Plymouth also speaks to a wider cultural moment as it announces a bid for City of Culture 2029. This week Theatre Royal Plymouth also announced that it delivered an estimated £53.3 million economic impact to Plymouth and the wider South West in the 2024/25 financial year — its most successful period on record. Major touring productions such as Hamilton, Mary Poppins and now Matilda the Musical are drawing audiences from across the UK and beyond, strengthening not only Plymouth’s cultural offer but its restaurants, hotels and visitor economy.
If you can secure tickets for Matilda, do. It’s anarchic, inventive, and deeply charming — and you’ll likely leave humming at least one tune (the score is a world-class earworm). Highly, wholeheartedly recommended.
Matilda the Musical runs at Theatre Royal Plymouth until 7 February 2026. Tickets available via the Theatre Royal website
