Matilda Production: Student View
Words by Stanley V, Y12 Student who played Mr Wormwood
Attempting a holistic review of something you have doused with emotion and passion is rather difficult, as you have to deal with the possibility of allowing your heart to take over your mind and pump out a wild piece that doesn’t quite reflect each stage of the process. Yes, that final week you’ve been anticipating for months is undoubtedly the pinnacle of everyone’s achievement and is the moment where characters are realised and we all magically embed our lines into our heads, with adrenaline rushing as we take to the stage, but it’s just as vital to remember every aspect of the process of putting on a musical. Therefore, in this retrospective, I will be diving back into the history of Matilda the Musical from my perspective, exploring the elements that have stuck with me most, which has made this be one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life.
Reminiscing on the early, somewhat primitive stages seems almost daunting to return to, but it was in these cosy Winter evenings that the careful moulding of the production began. Running lines, blocking scenes, learning songs, and conducting shenanigans with the Amanda Thripp dummy made up the vast majority of this 4 month period, and though many of us had seen the culmination of similar hard work with Shrek (and even older veterans, Mary Poppins!), no one could have speculated the height that the show would reach. As I thoughtfully reflect on these plentiful rehearsals, the one image that keeps coming to mind is one of contentedness: the Drama teachers weave their magic to direct buzzing Y7s, students of all ages try their hardest to practice their big moments, the occasional member of the tech team enquires about something that hints at the aforementioned scale to come, and sixth formers like myself sit proudly, knowing where this rudimentary level will rise to by March. Meticulous planning of the rehearsal schedule meant that the satisfying process of plodding steadily through scenes sharply whisked us into the new year, by which point costumes and props were beginning to be acquired, and the mood turned from ‘comfy’ to ‘invigorating’.
And with that we locked into 2nd gear, ready for the ever enthralling acceleration to the climax. Lines were learnt (for the most part!), the final scenes were blocked, songs were revisited, and shenanigans with the Amanda Thripp dummy continued in full force. I will forever be envious of the Y7s who get to experience this barrelling excitement for the first time, as it marks the moment where everything starts getting serious. The ever important weekend rehearsal is not only a time to record episodes of the Matilda Podcast, but also to instill something in the air that says ‘we’re not messing about anymore’ as we run the show as many times as we can and costumes are brought out.
Professionalism is a word that has been bounced around by multiple people regarding the show, and it is at the stage where the lighting rigs and set are put up, hair and makeup people arrive to ‘beautify’ us (depending on the way Miss Trunchbull looks at it), and our directors gain their all-powerful headsets that I believe we can begin to use the word ‘professional’. Combining so many crucial aspects is what makes the show feel real and this rocket of pride takes off as we enter the performances, when effort from all angles is synthesised and everyone’s confidence reaches its peak. I cannot express the joy felt when tiptoeing into the wings, seeing lights blaring and a full audience, being given an encouraging thumbs up by whoever is standing by, and stepping onto the stage. The performing arts department makes me feel alive.
Matilda may be a wacky musical, but it has been an opportunity to develop friendships, improve my acting ability, laugh the hardest I’ve ever laughed, and discover who I am. And with Matilda being my final full-scale musical at St Clement Danes, I can say from the bottom of my heart that these shows have been the most fulfilling experiences of my life, and I am honoured to be considered a part of the SCD performing arts canon.
Thank you to a student of one of our local primary schools who gave us a 5star rating a lovely review:
Matilda review by Isla, Year 6 Rating: *****
I loved all of it! The singing was beautiful and the acting was amazing. My favourite part was when the school children were singing ‘Revolting,’ and everyone was overjoyed to see Trunchbull go. The character I liked best was Miss Trunchbull as she had a huge presence on the stage as well as being a brilliant actress. The plot was fantastic and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I would definitely recommend this production to others and thought it rivalled the West End version.
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