Matilda The Musical

As the New York Post put it, “Once in a blue moon, a show comes out blazing and restores your faith in broadway. Matilda the Musical is that show”. The multi-award-winning musical (it has won more than 99 international awards) inspired by the Roald Dahl book had a successful run in Dubai last September; now it’s coming to Abu Dhabi – “the perfect destination to host the beloved musical”, according to the CEP of the company responsible for putting it on for four days at Etihad Arena on Yas Island (20-23 June).

Matilda The Musical is directed by Matthew Warchus. Sets and costumes are by Rob Howell, with choreography by Peter Darling. All three are also Tony winners, along with the lighting director Hugh Vanstone. The script by Tony Award-winning playwright Dennis Kelly is excellent, sticking close enough to the original but making the most of the live-action theatricality of the stage; Tim Minchin’s original songs are terrific, mixing wit with sing-along choruses. And it’s a Royal Shakespeare Company production, which is itself an assurance of quality and professionalism.

Tickets starts at a reasonable enough AED 150 for weekday shows, AED 200 at weekends. Matilda the Musical plays at 7pm on 20 and 21 June, at 1pm and 6pm on 22 and 23 June.