There’s something particularly enjoyable about watching a stage packed with young performers completely throw themselves into a story — and Belfast School of Performing Arts’ Matilda Jr at The MAC certainly delivered on energy, humour and plenty of attitude.
Based on Roald Dahl’s much-loved story, Matilda follows an exceptionally bright young girl growing up in a family who have very little interest in books, learning or, frankly, understanding their daughter at all. School should offer an escape, but unfortunately for Matilda, it comes with the terrifying Miss Trunchbull — a headteacher who seems to take enormous pleasure in making children miserable.
Thankfully, there’s also the wonderfully kind Miss Honey, who quickly realises there is something very special about her new pupil.
BSPA had such demand for this summer production that two casts alternated performances during the short run — an impressive indication of just how many talented young performers are coming through the company.
At the centre of the Wormwood cast is 11-year-old Maisie Armstrong as Matilda, and she handles a sizeable role with remarkable confidence. From Naughty onwards, she gives Matilda exactly the combination the character needs: intelligence, determination, cheekiness and a refusal to accept that adults are always right simply because they’re adults.
There’s great comedy from Fern Mellor and Abigail Reid as Mr and Mrs Wormwood, Matilda’s spectacularly unsuitable parents. Their larger-than-life performances bring some of the biggest laughs, with Mr Wormwood’s ridiculous schemes and Mrs Wormwood’s gloriously over-the-top personality making the Wormwood household suitably chaotic.
Emma Fitzsimons brings a lovely gentleness to Miss Honey, providing an important contrast to the madness around her and creating a believable bond with Matilda.
Then, of course, there’s Miss Trunchbull.
Eliana Lamberton clearly has great fun embracing the villainy, stomping around the school and treating her pupils as though they are an inconvenience to be eliminated rather than children to be taught. The infamous pigtail moment is particularly well done and certainly gets a reaction from the audience.
Another standout is Jett Dawson as Bruce, particularly during the famous chocolate cake sequence and later in the show when his vocals really come through. He’s a young performer we’d definitely be interested to see again.
But Matilda Jr isn’t simply about its principal characters. Much of the enjoyment comes from seeing the huge ensemble working together.
When I Grow Up is one of the loveliest moments of the evening, allowing the cast to show a softer side before the rebellion really takes hold. And when Revolting Children arrives, the production gets the big, energetic finish it deserves. There’s something infectious about seeing so many young performers filling the stage and clearly enjoying every second of it.
Director Mimi Burns, alongside choreographer Sean O’Neill and musical director Ryan Greer, keeps everything moving at a lively pace. The staging itself is relatively simple, meaning the young cast have nowhere to hide — and, importantly, they don’t need to. Their personalities and enthusiasm provide most of the spectacle.
The Junior version inevitably moves through Dahl’s story quickly. Some developments, particularly Matilda discovering her extraordinary abilities, feel rather sudden compared with the full musical. That’s more a consequence of condensing such a substantial show than a criticism of this production, but anyone familiar with the West End version will notice how rapidly the story races towards its conclusion.
What matters most with a youth production like this, however, is whether the performers make you forget you’re watching a group of children and allow you to become caught up in their world.
For much of Matilda Jr, they absolutely do.
There are laughs, impressive young voices, big ensemble numbers and that wonderful feeling of watching the next generation of Belfast performers gaining confidence on a professional stage.
BSPA continues to give young people an opportunity not simply to appear in a show, but to experience what putting together a full theatrical production actually involves. Some of the faces on stage at The MAC this weekend will undoubtedly be appearing in many more productions in the years ahead.
And if Matilda teaches us anything, it’s that you should never underestimate the kids.
Love Belfast Rating: ★★★★☆
Matilda Jr – Belfast School of Performing Arts
The MAC, Belfast
Friday 14 – Saturday 15 August 2026
Photo credit: Toby Watson Photos
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