Tuesday 11 April 2017

Preview: Matilda The Musical at Sunderland Empire



Royal Shakespeare Company Hit Show Matilda The Musical Goes on Debut UK Tour & Comes To Sunderland Empire


Matilda The Musical
Sunderland Empire
Tuesday 8th May - Saturday 2nd June 2018

ON SALE TO THEATRE CARD AND GROUPS - WEDNESDAY 19 APRIL 2017 AND GENERAL ON SALE - WEDNESDAY 26 APRIL 2017

Today, the Royal Shakespeare Company announces that its multi award-winning production of Matilda The Musical will embark on a UK and Ireland tour in 2018-2019 with a North East debut at Sunderland Empire from Tuesday 8 May – Saturday 2 June 2018.


Photo: Manuel Harlan
Winner of 85 international awards, including 16 for Best Musical, the RSC’s touring production of Matilda The Musical will open at Leicester Curve, playing from 5 – 24 March 2018, followed by Dublin Bord Gais Energy Theatre (4 April – 28 April), Sunderland Empire (8 May – 2 June), Milton Keynes Theatre (5 June – 30 June), Birmingham Hippodrome (3 July – 8 September), Manchester Palace (18 September – 24 November) and Cardiff Wales Millennium Centre (4 December – 12 January 2019). Further dates and venues are to be announced in due course.


Photo: Manuel Harlan
The multi award-winning production will continue to play in the West End at the Cambridge Theatre (currently booking until 17 December 2017) as well as its tours in Australia, New Zealand and North America.


Photo: Manuel Harlan
The production will be accompanied in each location by a new education programme to engage young people, inspired by Matilda The Musical. From a travelling library of stories led by Mrs Phelps, to whole school takeovers of Matilda, the RSC aims to reach over 15,000 children, in collaboration with touring theatre partners. Further details will be announced later.


Photo: Manuel Harlan
Dennis Kelly, writer of the musical’s book said: “It’s been a long time coming but I’m delighted that we get to take Matilda around the UK and to Ireland. We have some fantastic theatres in this country and in Ireland, supported by smart, engaged audiences and we can’t wait to bring this crazy, messy, anarchic explosion of a show to them.”


Photo: Manuel Harlan
Tim Minchin, who created the music and lyrics, said: “I - like millions of others - feel like Dahl is in my blood, because I grew up with his books. So to have contributed to a piece of work that brings one of his most famous stories to life is one of my life's great joys. I’m utterly thrilled that audiences in cities all across the UK and Ireland will now share and be part of Matilda’s story.


Photo: Manuel Harlan
Catherine Mallyon, RSC Executive Director added: “We are thrilled our home-grown miracle, which started life after a seven year gestation in Stratford-upon-Avon, has grown into a bit of a global phenomenon. Following Matilda’s successful run on Broadway, our current tours around North America, Australia and New Zealand, and continuing into our sixth year at the Cambridge Theatre in London’s West End, it is fantastic that we can share Matilda with audiences around the UK and in Ireland. In collaboration with our touring partners we will also deliver a programme of ground-breaking interactive education projects to enable young people to emulate Matilda, sharing the extraordinary power of story-telling and the boundless creativity of their imaginations.”


Photo: Manuel Harlan
Now in its sixth year in London’s West EndMatilda The Musical is the longest running production at the Cambridge Theatre where it continues to play to packed houses.


Photo: Manuel Harlan
With book by Dennis Kelly, original songs by Tim Minchin and direction by Matthew Warchus, Matilda The Musical is the story of an extraordinary little girl who, armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, dares to take a stand and change her own destiny.


Photo: Manuel Harlan
Ben Phillips, General Manager, Sunderland Empire said: “We are absolutely thrilled that the Royal Shakespeare Company will be bringing their multi-award winning production Matilda the Musical to us in May 2018, for the only North East dates on their UK tour. Audiences will be left mesmerised by this deliciously exhilarating and ingenious production of Roald Dahl’s classic book during the limited 4 week engagement. Early booking is highly recommended!”


Photo: Manuel Harlan
Inspired by the incomparable Roald Dahl’s beloved book, Matilda The Musical was commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company and premiered at the RSC’s The Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon in November 2010, before transferring to London’s West End in October 2011, where it opened to rave reviews.


Photo: Manuel Harlan
The New York production of Matilda The Musical opened in April 2013 at Broadway’s Shubert Theatre and was celebrated on 10 “Top Ten” lists for 2013, including TIME Magazine’s #1 Show of the Year.


Photo: Manuel Harlan
Matilda The Musical has been seen by more than 6.5 million people worldwide. Having swept the board at the 2012 Olivier Awards, with a record-breaking seven awards, and winning four Tony Awards and a Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theater for the four girls sharing the title role on Broadway, Matilda The Musical has now played in 51 cities worldwide and continues to delight audiences in London, Australia and on tour around North America.


Photo: Manuel Harlan
After winning a Sydney Theatre Award for Best Musical in 2015, the Australian production played a sold-out season at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre. In July 2016, the production broke further records by winning all 13 Helpmann Awards for which it was nominated. The tour continues in Perth and Adelaide and will premiere in New Zealand at The Civic in Auckland in August 2017 for a strictly limited season.


Photo: Manuel Harlan
Matilda The Musical is produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company with AndrĂ© Ptaszynski and Denise Wood as Executive Producers. The production was developed with the support of Jeanie O’Hare and the RSC Literary Department.


Photo: Manuel Harlan
Matilda The Musical is written by Dennis Kelly, with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, and direction by Matthew Warchus. The production is designed by Rob Howell, with choreography by Peter Darling, orchestrations, additional music and musical supervision by Christopher Nightingale, lighting by Hugh Vanstone, sound by Simon Baker and the special effects and illusions are by Paul Kieve.


Photo: Manuel Harlan
On The Web:
#matildaontour
# Twitter: @MatildaMusical
Facebook: MatildaTheMusical
Instagram: @MatildaTheMusical

Tickets:

Matilda The Musical is to play Sunderland Empire Tuesday 8 May – Saturday 2 June 2018

On sale date
Theatre Card and Groups: Wednesday 19 April 2017
General sale: Wednesday 26 April 2017
Tickets available in person at the Box Office on High Street West, from the Ticket Centre on 0844 871 3022* or online at www.ATGtickets.com/Sunderland*
*Calls cost 7p per minute plus your plus your phone company's access charge. Booking and transaction fees may apply.



Photo: Manuel Harlan
full TOUR Listings

Leicester Curve
Monday 5 – Saturday 24 March 2018

Dublin Bord Gais Energy Theatre
Wednesday 4 – Saturday 28 April 2018

Sunderland Empire Theatre
Tuesday 8 May – Saturday 2 June 2018

Milton Keynes Theatre
Tuesday 5 – Saturday 30 June 2018

Birmingham Hippodrome
Tuesday 3 July – Saturday 8 September 2018

Manchester Palace Theatre
Tuesday 18 September – Saturday 24 November 2018

Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff / Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru
Tuesday 4 December 2018Saturday 12 January 2019

WEST END LISTING

MATILDA THE MUSICAL
Cambridge Theatre, Earlham Street, WC2H 9HU
Booking until 17 December 2017


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