Pictured: Matilda is the black sheep in the Wormwood family
1. Pick your poison
Matilda’s last name is Wormwood, which is also the name for a poisonous plant that can cause kidney failure. It also just so happens to be a key ingredient in absinthe. We’re all up for being ‘a little bit naughty’ but that’s taking it a step too far!
2. The school alarm rings a bell
The iconic school bell at Crunchem Hall isn’t a generic sound effect. It’s an authentic recording of the bell used by Royal Shakespeare Company front-of-house staff in Stratford-upon-Avon!
3. Fourteen years of West End magic
Matilda had its West End premiere in October 2011, and has been delighting audiences ever since. Now in its 14th year, it remains one of the longest-running musicals in London theatre history.
4. Anyone for tea?
During the touching number “My House”, Matilda and Miss Honey share a real cup of hot tea with milk, and yes, there’s a biscuit involved. This charming detail makes the moment even more heartfelt for audiences.
5. Is it a bird, is it a (paper) aeroplane?
Every year, about 3,780 paper aeroplanes are launched into the audience during “Revolting Children”. Each one is a ‘school report card’ from Matilda’s class, and lucky theatregoers can catch them mid-flight for a unique West End souvenir.
6. Confetti by the millions
Each performance of Matilda The Musical ends with bursts of colour and celebration as 28,000 pieces of confetti fall onto the crowd. Since opening night, that adds up to over 120 million pieces!
7. Matilda is top of the class
Over the years, Matilda has racked up more than 100 major theatre awards, including an impressive 15 for Best Musical. It’s the A* musical of the London West End musicals scene, and definitely deserves top set status.
8. The show’s sweetest secret
This production’s indulgence is real, the crew go through over 100 tubs of chocolate spread every year to make Miss Trunchbulls delicious chocolate cake. And lucky Bruce gets to eat it all!
9. Good things come in small packages
At just 4 feet 4 inches tall, Matilda holds the record as the smallest lead role in a West End musical, proving that size doesn’t stop you from making a big impact on stage.
10. Smashing Cambridge Theatre records
Matilda The Musical is the longest-running production ever to play at the Cambridge Theatre and is the 15th longest-running Musical in West End history.
Class is still in session! Matilda is now playing at the Cambridge Theatre and booking until 24 May 2026. Don’t miss out on this spectacular musical; maybe you’ll be the lucky one in the audience to catch a paper aeroplane!