Review: Matilda the Musical – UK Tour

Review: Matilda the Musical – UK Tour

The Alhambra Theatre, Bradford 05-11-25 by Fiona Holleyhead (and family)
★★★★★

What a triumph, a joy and an absolute treat. Matilda the Musical brought a slice of the West End to Bradford, and for my family it was the perfect night out, full of laughter, wonder, and a touch of glorious chaos.
Celebrating its 15th anniversary, this touring production proves Matilda has lost none of its magic. The show opened at Leicester’s Curve in October 2025 and is now dazzling audiences at the Alhambra before continuing to Liverpool, Plymouth, Sunderland, Edinburgh and Manchester, where it will run through March and April 2026.
Written by Dennis Kelly with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin and direction by Matthew Warchus, Matilda remains a masterpiece of wit, heart and rebellion. It is beautifully designed by Rob Howell, with choreography by Peter Darling, orchestrations and musical supervision by Christopher Nightingale, lighting by Hugh Vanstone, sound by Simon Baker and illusions by Paul Kieve. The result is a production that feels as alive and imaginative as ever.

I was genuinely delighted to see this tour has lost none of the lustre of its West End home. The sound, lighting and staging are top tier, every transition slick, every song bursting with energy. The cast were an absolute joy to watch, with standout debuts from Pixie Pettigrew (Lavender) and Mollie Hutton (Matilda), who both delivered performances that deserved their standing ovations.
The role of Matilda is shared equally by Madison Davis, Mollie Hutton, Olivia Ironmonger and Sanna Kurihara, and Oisin-Luca Pegg, Carter-J Murphy, Brodie Robson and Takunda Khumalo share the role of Bruce.

The Trunchbull was deliciously menacing and hilarious in equal measure, keeping us all laughing one moment and gasping the next. But what really stood out to me was how much the entire cast seemed to be enjoying themselves. That sense of joy was infectious, and the whole theatre felt swept up in it.

Watching alongside my husband and our two young daughters, I was reminded why Matilda is such a special story. It is clever, funny and anarchic, but it is also empowering, celebrating courage, imagination and the idea that sometimes being a little bit revolting is exactly what the world needs. My girls came out grinning from ear to ear.
Matilda the Musical is a heartwarming, funny and gloriously uplifting night out for all ages, full of heart, energy and pure theatrical magic – a five-star evening in every sense.

Matilda the Musical runs at The Alhambra Theatre until 23rd November – Get tickets from the official site HERE