By Ebba Scherer, Head of Drama
Sidcot School’s production of Matilda the Musical was a vibrant celebration of courage, creativity and just the right amount of mischief. At its heart, Matilda is a story about standing up for what is right, celebrating individuality, and using your voice, all values that resonate strongly within our Sidcot community.
Our cast brought this story to life with extraordinary spirit. Each young performer embraced their role with confidence, imagination and a true sense of play, creating a production filled with heart, humour and remarkable talent.
Belle as Matilda lit up the stage with her fierce intelligence, quiet determination and emotional honesty. She held the story together with maturity well beyond her years and brought the audience with her every step of the way.
Cara as Miss Honey offered a beautiful contrast, bringing warmth, gentleness and depth to the role. Her calm strength and wonderful solo grounded the show, and her relationship with Matilda was portrayed with real tenderness.
Onno as Miss Trunchbull was a standout, delivering a larger‑than‑life performance that balanced comedy with just the right amount of menace. Every gesture, line and moment was crafted with precision, and the audience loved every second!
Freya, Leon and George playing the Wormwoods were a comedic force, bursting with energy, exaggeration and unapologetic flamboyance. We must not forget John's portrayal of Rudolpho, who’s hips had the audience in stitches! And of course, our ensemble of Big Kids, Little Kids and various other characters brought unstoppable energy throughout.
Their teamwork, discipline and joy filled the stage at every moment. Whether singing, dancing or reacting in character, they created a world buzzing with life that both Roald Dahl and Tim Minchin would be proud of. Across the company, from Years 7 to 12, each cast member threw themselves into the process with enthusiasm, creativity and a willingness to take risks. Rehearsals were filled with laughter, determination and the kind of collaboration that reminds us exactly why theatre matters. This production was a celebration of young voices, bold storytelling and the power of community. What these students created together was truly special and we could not be prouder of every single one of them!
The Unsung Heroes Behind Matilda
Working with young people is always full of surprises, and one of the greatest is discovering just how knowledgeable, skilled and endlessly curious they are. Throughout the Matilda process, our student Tech and Design team were a constant source of inspiration. Each year we learn from them, but this year in particular, they truly shone. Many have become genuine experts in their fields, initially guided by our excellent technicians, Phil Butterworth and Stuart Phippen, and now confidently flying solo. We were incredibly proud that everything happening behind the scenes during the performances was run entirely by students.
The lighting, sound, microphones and all set changes were programmed, set up and operated by students. Every projection was hand‑designed by Bibi, who instinctively grasped the aesthetic we were aiming for, and these were operated with precision by Nat. Adam threw himself into the team with enthusiasm, bravely hand‑operating the follow spot for his first-ever show. After giving huge support during set‑painting in rehearsals, Frida and Bella stepped seamlessly into their roles as costume organisers in the final weeks. Within a single day, cast members were already commenting on how brilliantly supported they felt during quick changes, a huge accomplishment, especially as their first year in the Senior School.
Jack kept our props table immaculately organised, ensuring every cast member always had what they needed. On top of this, he crafted several props in his own time.
Lenja was a complete professional, demonstrating meticulous care in her approach to microphone operation while remaining impressively calm under pressure. We were equally grateful for Mattie, our Stage Manager, who led backstage with confidence and composure. Stage management is never easy, especially in such a high‑energy environment, yet he handled it with real maturity.
Mattie built a fantastic team of stage hands, Jess, Flo, Bibi, Nat and Daisy, who ensured every set change was slick, fast and seamless. Their teamwork (and muscle strength!) grew with each rehearsal. These students also supported Ms Wood in creating the striking set, alongside Maisie, Martha, Kate and Rosie, who generously gave up their afternoons to help paint and prepare.
This production was truly a team effort, and none of it happened overnight. Many of these students gave up evenings, weekends and countless breaks to ensure this show was the best it could possibly be. They conducted themselves as true professionals, and it was an honour to work with such positive, dedicated and hardworking young people.
This is what the Sidcot community is all about, collaboration, creativity and young people rising brilliantly to a challenge!
