Matilda the Musical review at Mayflower Theatre in Hampshire

The scooters, flying swings and boundless energy of this touring production at Mayflower Theatre more than match the magic of the West End. The whole thing is confident and unapologetically high‑quality.

Based on Roald Dahl’s classic, the story follows Matilda, a bright girl already reading hefty novels like 'Oliver Twist' and 'Moby Dick' by the age of five, much to the horror of her TV‑obsessed parents. Her sharp mind and quiet determination are put to the test when she arrives at school and squares up to the headteacher, Miss Trunchbull, and begins to realise that sometimes you have to make your own happy ending.

A scene from Matilda the Musical (Image: Royal Shakespeare Company)

The company is led by an exceptional young cast.

The title role is shared in rotation by Madison Davis, Mollie Hutton, Olivia Ironmonger and Sanna Kurihara, with Oisin‑Luca Pegg, Carter J Murphy, Brodie Robson and Takunda Khumalo taking turns as Bruce.

On press night, Madison took centre stage as Matilda and was nothing short of outstanding – headstrong, cheeky and endlessly watchable. Her solos in 'Naughty' and 'Quiet' provided two of the evening’s most spine‑tingling moments.

A scene from Matilda the Musical (Image: Royal Shakespeare Company)

Brodie Robson’s Bruce was a delight, our chocolate‑smeared hero with razor‑sharp comic timing, crowned by a very funny nod to Beyonce's 'Single Ladies' in the hit song 'Revolting Children'. As Lavender, Dottie Jones was utterly charming and consistently hilarious, regularly stealing the show and clearly winning over the audience every time she bounded onto the stage. Whatever their age, every young performer on that stage delivers a showstopping turn.

And then there’s Miss Trunchbull. It wouldn’t be Matilda without her looming presence, and Richard Hurst is a delight. If you lifted Dahl’s illustrations straight off the page and dropped them on stage, you’d get something very close to Hurst’s performance – the physicality alone is a winner. If you’ve seen the musical before, you'll know Trunchbull’s one‑liners are a highlight, and Hurst lands every single one.

A scene from Matilda the Musical (Image: Royal Shakespeare Company)

There’s a reason Matilda the Musical has been thriving since 2010. Tim Minchin’s witty score remains an absolute powerhouse, and on press night in Southampton, the songwriter himself was in the audience to see it brought to life. You’ll likely leave the theatre humming “When I grow up” or chanting “Revolting children” under your breath for days afterwards.

Matilda the Musical is at Mayflower Theatre until May 17. Call the box office on 02380 711811 or visit mayflower.org.uk