A Triumphant History of Matilda the Musical (WitW S2E4) 

Wait, it just hit me. Royal Shakespeare Company produced TWO shows based on cult novels about a misunderstood schoolgirl who stands up to bullies with her telekinetic powers, with vastly different degrees of success.

Revolting Children is kiddie B*tch of Living and I will stand by that statement forever. Matilda is one of the best shows out there.

Watching all these kids cary a 2 1/2 hour musical so amazingly makes me feel bad because I just spent 5 minutes looking for my phone while it was in my hand

I'd love to see an episode about the Lord of the Rings musical. For years I didn't even know it existed.

Okay, the fact that we learn that Tim Minchin and Eddie Perfect are best friends makes this video even more awesome!!!

Funnily enough, I always remembered Matilda as the smart little girl, the one that liked books, that always proved to be smarter than the adults that looked down on her, the girl that used her cunning to improve her life and the lives of those similarly oppressed. Her telekinesis always seemed secondary to me. I loved how they used it sparingly and only focused on it when necessary, even giving it more depth than in the movie. I love the musical and I'm so happy you did an episode on it. Great video!

"Matilda will go on Netflix" I was very surprised of an information

we did this musical at my high school. we weren't the most excited for it but once we really started running through it we fell in love with it. my house made me cry just because of how sad and dark ms honeys life was. i'm excited for the netflix adaptation, i really hope they get the right people to do the show justice!!

Ok, I already knew you had Defunctland as a patron, but Schafrillas Productions? Legends supporting legends. How do you not have more subscribers?

Tim Minchin's lyrics are beyond brilliant. I'd love to have been a fly on the wall when he wrote School Song, figuring out what words sound like each letter of the alphabet and fitting them into the melody perfectly. Bertie Carvel's performance as Trunchbull is possibly my favourite villain performance ever. I've seen other actors play her but they usually lean too far into the comedy. Trunchbull can be funny, but Carvel understood that she is never ever a clown; she is a force of terror. I love this show so much.

I'm starting to notice a theme that the best musicals are the ones that are goofy and funny until shit gets real

matilda a musical: *broke* matilda THE musical: *woke*

Love your videos but for the next what went wrong you gotta do Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812

I was having a hard time at my job when I first saw Matilda on broadway, and I completely lost it at "When I grow up". The pureness and nostalgia was so authentic it hit me really hard. And now thanks to this video I know how Matilda the musical became the greatness that it is.

"Who could "bee" Miss Honey?!" This is what we subbed for run crew. Even when it's a difficult journey, it's always nice to see when someone wants to adapt a beloved property, loves it dearly and wants to be respectful towards it, but is also ready to make changes to enhance the experience in a new medium. Taking time to understand the magic of the story, while reinventing it. Which seems to have been the goal for this group. Even though I'm not that familiar with any incarnation of Matilda, I can very much respect that. Especially when done well. Also I feel like the video editing went up another notch here. Don't get me wrong it was always great, but this one has a lot more, emotional atmosphere to it at points. Particularly the moments of nostalgia where it looks like an old film reel. It's a very nice touch.

This show sparked my love of theater. Saw it when I was 8 with my mom in New York and she somehow managed to get us super nice seats and I was blown away. This show will forever hold a place in my heart

It makes you appreciate a musical so much more when you realize all of the work behind-the-scenes.

I was so lucky to have played a role in a local production of this show. It's a beautiful, emotionally satisfying musical, and deserves all the praise it receives.

It was brave to select Matthew Warchus for a musical. I saw his LOTR musical and broadway revival for Follies. I would have banned him from ever touching another musical again based on those two alone. That was a major leap of faith. His pick of Tim Minchin was an absolutely inspired one for composer. I guess third time’s the charm. Lol

God i remember watching the matilda movie when i was young and falling absolutely in love with it. When I went on a new york trip with my theatre class as a sophomore, i got to see the musical and cried. It was everything to me, it still very much is. Now I'm nearly 25 which is still young but it hasn't ever left my memories. Im still in awe of it now as I was then and im sure i always will be.

Matilda was my favorite book when I was a kid. I went to see the Broadway show for my 23rd birthday and was blown away. I've seen it twice since then, once for the tour and once for a local production. I'm thrilled that a new generation of kids are getting to know her and I can tell from the lyrics and the music and just about everything about it that the love everyone involved had for the book was strong enough to keep it rooted to what the book meant to me and countless other kids. It subverts so many tropes typical of children's books and the show chose to lean farther into those subversions. I always tear up at Quiet and the end of the show because Matilda is a character who has meant so much more to me than any other fictional character. She was my hero, my role model, through a rough childhood. She gave me hope that things could get better and the confidence in myself even while others didn't accept me. The show perfectly encapsulates what makes Matilda and her story so special and it's leagues better than the movie (which is also good, don't get me wrong, but it doesn't honor the source material as faithfully). I think Roald Dahl would have loved the show. I'm sad he never got to see it.

One of the best things about this is Mara Wilson herself gave her blessing of this show

Love you're videos man, they've helped give me a greater understanding and appreciation of theatre, something I've been attached to as a kid so it's great seeing channels like this celebrate it!

I love how this channel is getting better and better!

Watching this video was more emotional than I expected. Matilda, the film and then the novel, were highlights of my childhood, and I had never heard of the musical. So to hear that not only was it this successful, but wholesomely so, in this industry, was beautiful to me. So thank you for introducing me to it like this.

as a devoted Tim Minchin fan 15:46 was f***ing hilarious

PLEASE cover the lighting thief musical, it's actually amazing!!

Such a good video - I’m amazed by the history of this musical. As another request for "What went right", I would like a video on "Six", although it hasn’t officially opened on Broadway yet :)

Just popping in here to say that I love the way your videos focus in on the creative process and the personal touch everyone brings to a production. Thanks for what you do, stories like this are fuel for me.

I love Tim Minchin! Honestly he doesn’t get enough credit, he’s a lyrical genius! If you haven’t heard any of his songs I suggest you listen to them, they’re awesome!

The shirts look dope and the ad was great, but what I'm really waiting for is "starlight is a blood sport" on t-shirts Anyway great work as always

I hear him mention the doubt if he could make you cry- When I Grow Up jumped in my mind instantly, as it probably made me cry the hardest when seeing that show.

Was very lucky to see the finnish version on opening night a couple weeks ago with the lead being a tiny little 9-year-old who was probably a head shorter than her classmates, and she casually carried the whole thing like it was nothing 😭 the whole kid cast got private schooling for 1,5 years along with singing, acting n dancing lessons. they were so fun to watch and im very happy for them

I saw it on the US Tour a few years ago, not really knowing anything about the story. I was amazed at how dark it is for a story with so many children, but it was so wonderful and emotional as well. "When I grow up" still brings tears to my eyes when I hear it. I learned a lot from this video.

Matilda the Musical has been a favorite of mine ever since I watched it in 2010. I was 6 at the time and loved the show. I recently watched it again a couple days ago and I burst into tears watching it. A beautiful musical about childhood trauma and overcoming it. Spreading the word and letting people know they have the power to change their story, that they don’t have to be stuck in their situation. It hits home for me.

One of my friends was going to be in a production of Matilda in his local theatre. He was gonna play truchbull. The production got postponed because of covid.

*pauses video to quickily look up the Lord of the Rings Mussical cause holy shit how did I not know about this*

Phillip Schofield at the beginning, iconic

I actually really, REALLY like Tim Minchin! Probably in my top 10 favorite musicians! How the hell did it take me THIS long to find out that he actually MADE this and the Groundhogs Day musical!? For shame, really. Also as I was watching this, the section where they're at Minchin's concert thinking, "He's perfect, but he can't make the audience cry. Too bad. So close." I was just thinking, "Ah! They haven't heard White Wine in the Sun yet! That's the encore piece. That'll convince them." And guess who was right! :p

Ok did anyone else’s jaw drop when they saw Tom holland as/in billy Elliot

I saw this show when I was nine after my dad had surprised me with tickets while stood outside the theatre. I’d wanted to see the show for a while and it was the first west end show I’d seen. For so many British teenage theatre fans, this is the reason we love theatre

I'm currently making a video essay about the limitations in theatre using the stage and film Matilda the Musical as the examples. Everything I have written so far rings true to what I have learnt in this documentary. Matilda is spectacular and it feels so great that I feel similar to the creatives. Thank you for this, you will be credited in my research!

Ive always loved Matilda and had weird timing with this story, I taught myself to read when I was 4 and the first book I read cover to cover was Matilda, and then when I was around 10 Matilda the musical came out, there was def something kind of magical about being the same age as the character both times and while I would never pretend to be a genious, being a hyperlexic autistic kid made this story very special to me. I love how they focoused less on 'making a musical' and more on making each aspect really good and then bringing them together, it helped all the elements support one another in the end as nothing was being left behind or forgotten

Amazing writing and editing for this episode as always!

I remember going to see Matilda when it was playing at Stratford. Me and my friends had managed to get cheap tickets and frankly didn’t expect much. Absolutely blew me away!!

I really want to see you cover the Charley and the Chocolate Factory musical now some day!

never thought I'd see spongebob and Andrew Jackson next to each other on a t-shirt

Great video! The overture wasn't added until August 2012, when the creative team revisited the production post-losing the Tony and Americanized a lot of the script, as well as adding a show curtain that prompted the need for an overture ;)

Here's a cool story: My Dad and I were invited to the Australian premiere of Matilda in Sydney back in 2015. During intermission, I called my mother to say "we haven't seen Tim Minchin yet, but maybe at the afterparty" and as I say that, Tim is walking 15ft away from us. So I promptly hung up and we went through this large crowd of people surrounding him, and when we did he was incredibly nice and asked if we were enjoying the show (we most certainly were!). When I asked if he could record a quick video message of him saying hi for my mum and sister, he responded, "that would be breaking a time honoured code..... but I'd be happy to do it!". So he did, and it's one of my best times at a theatre to this day!

So, I'm part of an ensemble performance of "When I Grow Up" for a music review show at my high school (as the older children) and that's what brought me here. I love that song so much.

Thankyou for creating such interesting and captivating videos! you deserve so much more attention for the evident hard work that is put into your content. I have a great interest in theatre and hope to work in the field in the future, your incredibly educational videos have presented such valuble insight into the works discussed. Again, thankyou so much!!

I saw Matilda by myself during previews in London when I was 18. Knew nothing about it other than I loved the book, the movie, and Tim Minchin. Was a fantastic experience, so strange to think that was 10 years ago now.

Now that you've mentioned it, I need to know more about that Lord of the Rings musical :)

This will always hold a special place in my heart. This was the first show I ever got paid for, and it's an amazing musical, I love it so much

I love how you made the making of this show seem convenient and understandable. It seems like a lot of effort went into it and those people knew what they were working with. Also, Matilda was a memorable part of my childhood, regardless of its medium.

I never realised how much Tim Minchin looks like a mix of Shane Dawson and Russel Brand.

Keep up the great work dude. I admire your extreme amount if research and detail you put into your videos. You deserve more subscribers than what you currently have.

Does anyone know if they recorded some drafts of the songs that didn’t make the show or the songs firsts drafts? I would love to watch them if anyone knows if they exist and if I’m able to watch them.

Matildas "best friend" is Lavender. Not Hortensia

Not enough people talk about Matilda. Thank you for doing this.

Great video as always! Keep up the great work! Being able to tell the story behind so many shows is something really beautiful.

Just found your page and I absolutely am blown away at your production value (very professional and entertaining quality) and your videos Are just fantastic! Both éducational and entertaining, especially for a musical geek like me. You go in depth on so many musicals i either heard off but didn't know much about or knew nothing at all about! (or on ones I love, like this one, which just makes me happy on so many levels) speaking of, this video is defently my favourite! Having recently been to London and was so fortunate to see Matilda, I can easily say this show is now one of my ABSOLUTE favourite of musicals! A touching, fun, heartwarming show with such an amazing set piece and music score. And now being obsessed with it, your video just helps a lot ! 😅 So thank you for creating this video, can't wait to watch more (I'm binging the others as well haha!)

Excellent work. Fantastic depth but also a genuine passion for the material. Congratulations, I hate I can only 👍🏻 once.

I saw Matilda aged 6 during the first few months on the West End. I've seen it once again since. It has, without exaggeration, changed my life. I loved the book and the musical for the role model they gave me, the songs, the story and the way, like you said, Matilda's powers were for good. She looses them at the end of the story! (cough cough movie). I made friends through the musical, won talent shows performing it, found solace and humour, and learnt that being angry and rebellious was good (I have a lot of thoughts on angry female protagonists). Plus it introduced me to the wonderful work of Tim Minchin, as well as the stand-up comedy genre generally, and many other musicals.

I’m calling it now, the failed RSC musical is ‘Carrie’

This series (and your general channel) has been an absolute joy while being stuck in quarantine! Thank you for all the hours of hard work that goes into making such in-depth reviews. It's always really interesting to see what happens behind the scenes; it completely changes the way I watch musicals and I find myself even more appreciative to the hard work of the people on board. I was a self-proclaimed musical junkie in high school but wasn't able to really carry that hobby/interest over into college. Watching your videos has re-awakened that excitement and love!

i was one of those kids that saw the musical and grew up on it, i saw it when i was 12 and now i'm 19 and i think this show was the one that brought my love of musicals forward

Amazing doc Thankyou!!

Wonderful video 😁 I'd love to see you cover the "attempt" to do another of Dahl's works Charlie the Chocolate factory which ran for about 3 years in London but barely a year once it reached Broadway due to a baffling cast age change and the lack of wonderful sets seen in the west end Edit: oh I forgot to mention it was directed by Sam Mendes

I'm loving learning more about my favourite musicals during this pandemic - thank you!

Wait, they cast three rotating Matilda’s *partly* due to UK Labour Laws? No, it’s completely due to UK Labour laws, I don’t care what the director said. All musicals with major child roles have three rotating actors, his views are neither here nor there. The wait it’s mentioned in the video makes it seem unusual, please tell me American children do not do eight shows a week.

Matilda was the first musical I remember seeing and (especially in London!) and it will always have a special place in my heart

I did a performance of one of the songs Naughty for my primary school’s Book Week because I was obsessed with this musical. It was one of the greatest things I ever did and I never see it as a bad memory.

I look forward to watching this episode! It is an interesting show with an interesting book as it’s base. Keep making amazing content!

This was the first musical I had ever seen and it made me full in love with musical theatre with out this show I don’t think I would be into musicals

Great video! I’d love you to look into The Magician’s Elephant as well sometime, another great RSC musical based off a children’s novel. It just finished its Stratford run and I’m absolutely in love with it, it’s so underrated!

As much as I am fascinated by the What Went Wrong series, these videos inspire me in a way I can’t explain. As a Theatre Maker in University, these push me to keep working in the moments where I don’t feel like going on.

awe wait the connection with eddie perfect made me so happy!

“Tim Minchin could make them laugh, but he couldn’t make them cry…” Me: Wait, what? They haven’t heard…” “Then he came back for the encore and played ‘White Wine In The Sun’…” Me: YES! THERE IT IS! WEEP YOU FOOLS.

Matilda was my first musical i watched and can actually remember. I loved reading, especially Roald Dahl as a child (and still do!). My teacher introduced it to us in 2013 while we were reading tne book in class, and we watched clips from the west end performances. We were all so excited! Until we learned that the australian tour was yet to be announced. At the end of 2016, I finally went to see it at her Majesty's Theatre in Melbourne (Sydney was my closest theatre but we missed it when it was there) and oh my god. This solidified my love of theatre forever!!

i went to see this on the west end on a school trip, and it really ignited my love for musical theatre... this musical will always hold a special place in my heart

Matilda was my faviroute book when I was a kid, and for my birthday, I was lucky enough to see the original stratford upon avon run of Matilda the Musical... And I've seen it three times since! When I Grow Up still makes me cry, and I'm now in my 20's......

I was around 11 when I saw Matilda on children in need. I was enthralled. I fell in love with the soundtrack and 6 years later I got to see it on the west end. It lived up to all my expectations and surpassed them. I cried and left the theatre with such joy in my heart. I am nearly 19 and Matilda is my favourite musical and has been since I was 11. It shaped my world view and my choice to study the degree I will start in september. I don’t think I’d be the same person without it.

'they were finding that the spectacle distracted from the story' - looks like the former LotR creative team (Warchus, Howell, Darling, Nightingale) learned a lesson or two from their previous project! Great video overall, and special thanks to you for including the Lord of the Rings musical.

I recently discovered your channel and I am loving your videos. I am wondering if you have any plans to do a video about Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812. I have limited knowledge on the controversy about its closing and would love to watch a video that goes in depth on the subject. Keep up the great work.

Why didn’t you say the name of RSC’s second show that became a huge bomb? A smell a cliffhanger for a future episode, hehehehe....

i absolutely LOVED this show. I saw it on a Senior Trip to NY in 2012 and it blew me away. i still listen to When I Grow Up, and have it saved in my spotify library!

Would there be enough to talk about for a full video about Groundhog Day? I don't know much about anything behind the scenes, it's just one that holds a special place in my heart being the first show I ever saw on Broadway (I'm just glad anytime I hear it get mentioned haha)

I go see it every time I go to London, such a special show.

I'd really love an episode about Groundhog Day, another Tim Minchin show! I really loved it and was devastated to hear the national tour got cancelled. I think a lot of people brushed it off because, admittedly, a groundhog day musical sounds like a soulless cash grab (my initial impression) but actually watching it made me fall in love. Part of the problem imo was that the soundtrack (which is how I get into shows, not usually being able to see them) didnt contain the scenes which were interspersed with the songs, like One Day, so the show didnt make any emotional impact until I actually saw it. (Edit: oh lol you actually mentioned it right at the end there! :D )

In my Opinion, Matilda is a basically a more children appropriate version of Carrie the musical. Matilda uses her powers to get justice, Carrie used hers to get revenge

I remember hearing about this back when it was in London, and I wanted to go see it while at the olympics. Of course I didn't get a chance without preordering a ticket. So when it came to New York I was right there waiting. So worth it.

I never related to anyone kinda like I did with tim minchin at the beginning when he was pretty much "this is a good idea, someone should make this.......NOT ME tho, I mean I would be glad to help but (weird hand gestures)"

So glad you mentioned Groundhog Day! It was a great show and really didn’t last long enough. Tim Minchin is a genius in everything he does

Oh My God Congratulations on the skit at 11:35!!! Alan Partridge vibes all over. Lmao 😂

ok guys! The end credits scene at 48:56 is apparently our clue to the last show featured this season- and I have no idea what it could be ! Put your ideas below! EDIT: with a little digging, and reading some comments here, it appears to be from Carrie ; ) :D

44:26 =Wait, what??? Holy... Did not expect that connection...

White Wine In The Sun kills me every time, and so does Quiet from Matilda. Mitchin’s song writing is ✨✨✨

i love your videos so much!!!

Omg I want that shirt so bad it looks awesome