On the night of August 7^th, the West End Theatre musical commission Matilda the Musical made its stunning debut at the Beijing Performing Arts Centre (BPAC) Opera House. Since its premiere, this musical, adapted from renowned British children’s literature writer Roald Dahl’s classic novel of the same title, has garnered over a hundred international accolades and attracted more than 12 million audience worldwide. Making its debut at the Beijing Performing Arts Centre, this musical, an original production by the West End Theatre, will run for 21 performances in the following three weeks. This will add a touch of childlike wonder that blends literary depth with imaginative stagecraft to the Beijing’s performing arts market this summer.


Matilda the Musical tells the story of a brilliant young girl named Matilda. She is an avid reader, clever and brave. Faced with pressure from her self-absorbed, utilitarian parents and the tyrannical, brutal headmistress‌, she arms herself with the power of books, her innate kindness and her unyielding courage. In doing so, she shatters the prejudices of the adult world, protects her gentle teacher Miss Honey, and leads her fellow children in a rebellion against injustice. At its core, the musical conveys the message that even those small in stature can change the world.


On the night of the performance, the BPAC Opera House was filled to capacity. A lighthearted chorus, Miracle, immediately transported the audience into a fairytale world of whimsical imagination.


Young performer Hannah Reinders‌ gave a flawless portrayal of Matilda’s intelligence and stubbornness. Her rendition of Naughty captured the defiant spirit of the “Little Girl with Hands on Her Hips”, who is brave enough to say no to injustice. Her clear, bright vocals and crisp diction, paired with the lively melody, vividly brought Matilda’s wit, sensitivity and independence to life. This was followed by School Song, which revealed the lyricist and composer Tim Minchin’s passion for “wordplay”. The performers delivered a series of dazzling climbs and formations around the giant alphabet blocks on the school gate, accompanied by ingenious imagery formed by the letters in the lyrics, offering a vivid portrayal of the dark and oppressive atmosphere of the school under Headmistress Miss Trunchbull’s leadership.


Lottie Bower appeared as Miss Honey, singing in her tender voice. She gave a restrained rendition of Pathetic, capturing the tenderness and longing of a woman who has endured years of coldness and cruelty. Actor Stefan Lloyd-Evans gave a commanding portrayal of Miss Trunchbull, the formidable antagonist. In his body performance and compelling voice, he brought the villainous headmistress to life with striking intensity. There were other scenes that were either hilarious or deeply moving - Mrs. Wormwood and her dancing partner Rudolph sang and danced with great passion to a cha-cha rhythm, lovely Bruce devoured a giant chocolate cake amidst cheers from his classmates, Mr. Wormwood gave a “talk show” in the middle of the performance, the children sang When I Grow Up on swaying swings, envisioning their adult life, Miss Honey opened up about her traumatic childhood and inner world in My House, and Matilda, who has “telekinetic powers”, controlled chalk in writing on the chalkboard amid stage lights and shadows.


The high-level set design from the West End Theatre laid a solid foundation for smooth plot development. With modular alphabet blocks freely rearranged, the stage switched between different scenes, including the cozy library, the Wormwood household, the classroom, the headmistress’ office, and other locations, complemented by ingenious lights and shadows. A richly layered narrative space was created in the minimalist stage setting, mirroring the subtle change of character mentality. That was a perfect fusion of artistic vision and stagecraft. The performance reached its emotional climax in the chorus Revolting Children, with the young cast breaking free from constraints and singing loudly, leaving the entire audience stirred. As the curtain fell, nearly 2,000 audience members rose to their feet for a sustained standing ovation, showing their passion for Matilda the Musical to all those on the stage and behind the scenes.


After the performance, many parents who had attended the musical with their children said that the musical is far more than a simple fairy tale, exploring themes of reading, education, equality and courage through wit and humour, with both adults and children deeply moved and inspired.


Beyond the theatrical highlights, the BPAC offers a comprehensive suite of services to enhance audience experience, including photo ops, cultural and creative products, shuttle service, and culture-tourism linkage - all designed to create a fully immersive summer theatre experience and help extend wonderful stage moments to every corner of the theatre.


In the public spaces of the BPAC, various photo installations themed on Matilda the Musical are available, designed for visitors of all ages and heights. A diverse range of tailor-made cultural and creative products are available, allowing audiences to take home lasting memories of the performance. The exquisite brochure is particularly popular, too. It contains three randomly distributed full-page posters, and features a character-shaped cutout cover that enables the holder to take creative photos for capturing Matilda’s iconic “hands-on-hips” pose. Hidden inside the brochure is a lucky sticker, randomly distributed, adding an element of surprise. Every lucky audience member can find themselves sharing Bruce’s “sweet trouble” in customised chocolate puffs. Beyond the theatre, there are more interactive elements themed with Matilda the Musical, such as dining options, funny Perler Bead salons, and embroidery patch workshops.


Dedicated shuttle service for audiences is available now. DiDi offers exclusive taxi coupons with discounts up to 100 yuan, and local partner hotels offer discounted rooms. Furthermore, the Beijing Performing Arts Centre has opened access to the Grand Canal boat tour service, seeking to provide diverse cultural tourism experiences for audiences to offer them a more immersive summer getaway.


The West End Theatre musical commission Matilda the Musical will be staged at the Beijing Performing Arts Centre from August 7^th through August 23^rd, with performances scheduled across weekday nights, weekend matinees and proper evening sessions - suitable for different audiences including students, families and young people. This summer, audiences are invited to the Beijing Performing Arts Centre, situated by the Grand Canal, to experience the power of words, the romance of the stage, the boundless courage hidden within even the smallest of us, and everything else in Matilda the Musical.