After five days of auditions, including around 70 children, Tauranga Musical Theatre has announced the cast for its 2023 season of Roald Dahl’s Matilda – The Musical.
Three young Tauranga actors, Iisha Harris, Makenzi Young and Belle Goodwin, aged 10, 11 and 11 respectively, have landed the role of a lifetime in the extraordinary young girl with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind who dares to take a stand and change her own destiny.
Alongside the adult actors, which includes Matilda’s outrageous parents, Mr and Mrs Wormwood, who will be played by Fraser Graham and Carlie Crone, and the terrifying Agatha Trunchbull, played by Mark Vevers, there are two separate casts of children actors playing Matilda’s classmates, bringing the total number of children cast to 19.
Director Russell Dixon (Mary Poppins (Auckland – Civic Theatre), Wicked (Tauranga Musical Theatre), Mamma Mia (Tauranga, Auckland, Oamaru) says, “It has been a challenging but joyful process auditioning over 115 candidates for this epic production. The confidence and ability of so many young children, as well as the depth of experience and talent presented by the adult auditonees, has made the casting process exciting, yet in many ways very difficult. I know the creative team is extremely happy with our cast of 38 and we can’t wait to bring our team together and begin the rehearsal process in May.
Dixon leads the creative team which also includes Musical Director Matt Bodman (We Will Rock You, Miss Saigon), Choreographer Paige Henderson (Les Miserables, 13), and Production Manager Hannah Lee (That Bloody Woman, We Will Rock You (performer)).
The multi-award winning musical, inspired by the beloved Roald Dahl novel and with a book by Dennis Kelly and original songs by Tim Minchin, has won over 100 international awards, including 24 for Best Musical. It has toured the globe since its pilot season in 2011.
The narrative centres on Matilda Wormwood, a precocious young girl with the gift of telekinesis, who loves reading, overcomes obstacles caused by her hilariously horrible family, and helps her teacher reclaim her life. It is often most recognised for the brilliant songs including Revolting Children, Naughty and When I Grow Up.
Tauranga Musical Theatre’s season runs from 21 September to 7 October at Baycourt Community and Arts Centre. Tickets are on sale now through Ticketek. The three Matildas and two child casts will be rotated across the three-week season.
