The Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Matilda The Musical will return to Australia in 2027, opening at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre in October before travelling to the Sydney Lyric and QPAC’s Lyric Theatre in Brisbane in 2028.
The return comes a decade after the conclusion of the musical’s first Australian tour, which ran for more than two years and was seen by over one million people. Opening in Sydney in 2015, the production went on to become the most awarded musical in Australian theatrical history, winning a record 13 Helpmann Awards in 2016 and taking every musical category.
Australian producer Louise Withers said the scale of the response to that first tour had made Matilda one of the country’s most treasured musical theatre productions.
“When Matilda first opened in Australia, audiences embraced it with incredible warmth, joy and emotion,” Withers said. “More than one million Australians experienced this extraordinary production, and a decade later it remains one of the most treasured musicals we’ve ever had the privilege to produce.”
Based on Roald Dahl’s novel, Matilda The Musical has a book by Dennis Kelly and music and lyrics by Australian composer and performer Tim Minchin. It follows the fiercely intelligent Matilda Wormwood as she confronts the cruelty of her parents and headmistress Miss Trunchbull, aided by her teacher Miss Honey and her own remarkable abilities.
The production began at Stratford-upon-Avon in 2010 before transferring to London’s West End the following year. It is now among the ten longest-running musicals in West End history and has been seen by more than 13 million people in over 100 cities, collecting 101 international awards.
Royal Shakespeare Company co-artistic directors Tamara Harvey and Daniel Evans said Matilda’s character continued to speak to young audiences 15 years after the production’s premiere.
“Matilda Wormwood’s genius is still teaching us that even if you’re little you can do a lot,” they said, adding that her resilience “continues to inspire and bring joy to new generations of children and families.”
The original creative team will return for the Australian season. Matthew Warchus developed and directs the production, with choreography by Peter Darling, set and costume design by Rob Howell, orchestrations and additional music by Christopher Nightingale, lighting by Hugh Vanstone, sound by Simon Baker and illusions by Paul Kieve.
Minchin said the new tour would introduce the production to another generation of Australian performers, theatre workers and audiences.
“I am so, so excited that Matilda is touring Australia again,” he said. “The 2015–17 tour was absolutely brilliant, a genuinely world-class production to rival the West End version.”
“Now, a decade later, a whole new batch of incredible Aussie performers and crew and craftspeople will be putting the show on, and a whole new generation of audiences of all ages will have a chance to get a dose of pure joy.”
Withers said the production offered a different experience depending on the age of the person encountering it.
“The beauty of Matilda is that every generation discovers something different within it,” she said. “Children see possibility, adults rediscover wonder, and families share an unforgettable experience together.”
Casting and detailed performance dates are yet to be announced. Matilda The Musical opens at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre in October 2027, followed by Sydney and Brisbane in 2028. Audiences can join the waitlist through the Australian production website.