London's Matilda to Welcome More Than 20 Young Actors

Based on the Roald Dahl novel, Matilda features a score by Tim Minchin and a Tony Award-winning book by Dennis Kelly.

March 05, 2026 By Andrew Gans

Emilia Shefford, Sithuni Gamage, Bonnie Harper and Carla Lopez-Corpas at the London Library (Matt Crossick)

The Royal Shakespeare Company production of Matilda the Musical, which has played more than 5,000 performances in the West End, will welcome several new young cast members later this month.

Beginning March 17 Sithuni Gamage, Bonnie Harper, and Carla Lopez-Corpas will join Emilia Shefford in the title role.

Also joining the company that day in the roles of Bruce, Lavender, Nigel, and the rest of the pupils at Crunchem Hall will be Zoe Akinyosade, Oliver Alexandru, Felix Anderson, Mary Bassey Bassey, Amelie Bibani, Nathan Cooper, Alejandro García-Pérez, Ryan Hayter, Sebastian Tay Hilas, Eira Kay, Esmaé Kevany, Ivy-Rose Mann, Karin Narumi, Lucas Moy, Alexzander Neophytou, Jessica Rihanna Mocanu, Eden Rowe, Lucy Sheppard, Samuel Sturge, and Henry Treharne.

These new performers join existing young cast members Sid Boyle, Kanaho Kurihara, Albie Lambert, Savannah McDowell, and Mason Mingle.

The current adult cast includes Jon Robyns as Miss Trunchbull, Tiffany Graves as Mrs. Wormwood, Neil McDermott as Mr. Wormwood, and Eve Norris as Miss Honey, plus ensemble members Naomi Alade, Kofi Aidoo-Appiah, Alex Louize Bird, Katie Bradley, Millie Brown-Thornton, Reece Budin, Kelly Ewins, William Elijah-Lewis, Antony Lawrence, Nick Len, Tania Mathurin, Ben Middleton, James Oliver, Stuart Rouse, Chloe Saunders, Callum Train, and Dawn Williams.

The musical received its world premiere in 2009 from the RSC in Stratford-upon-Avon, transferring to London's West End in 2011 and winning seven Olivier Awards (including Best New Musical) in 2012.

Matilda, which has been seen by 12 million people across 100 cities worldwide, is now the 10th longest-running musical in West End history, according to producers. A U.K. and Ireland tour continues through January 2027.

With a Tony-winning book by Dennis Kelly and music and lyrics by Tim Minchin (Groundhog Day), Matilda tells the story of a five year-old girl whose love of reading and active imagination puts her at odds with her family and the diabolical school headmistress Miss Trunchbull. Matilda discovers she has secret powers and uses them, with help from her beloved teacher Miss Honey, to restore justice to her world.

The production transferred to Broadway in 2013, winning Tony Awards for Best Book, Featured Actor (Gabriel Ebert), Lighting Design (Hugh Vanstone), and Scenic Design (Rob Howell). The four young actors who alternated in the title role (Sophia Gennusa, Oona Laurence, Bailey Ryon, and Milly Shapiro) were also honored with a Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theatre. The Broadway production closed in 2017 after playing 1,555 performances.

The hit musical is directed by Matthew Warchus with designs by Rob Howell, choreography by Peter Darling, orchestrations, additional music, and musical supervision by Christopher Nightingale, lighting by Hugh Vanstone, sound by Simon Baker, and special effects and illusions by Paul Kieve.