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Proud

Ambitious

Respectful

Kind

The Wilnecote School theatre erupted in applause for two fantastic nights in February as they presented their show-stopping production of Matilda JR.!

This delightful junior version of the hit musical condensed all the magic of the original Broadway show into a captivating one-hour performance.

Leading the charge was the phenomenal Jaime Kelly (Year 7) in the iconic role of Matilda. Her performance, especially her beautiful rendition of “Quiet,” left audiences speechless. Laughter filled the room thanks to the hilarious Megan Smith (Year 10) who brought the formidable Miss Trunchbull to life, complete with her unforgettable “newt in my knickers” line!

But Matilda wouldn’t be Matilda without her quirky family and friends. Talia Cadet (Year 11), John Cooper-Perceival (Year 10) and Leo Boughton (Year 7) delivered standout performances as Matilda’s parents and brother, perfectly capturing their offbeat personalities.

There were show-stopping moments too, from Isabelle Lennon (Mrs Wormwood’s dance teacher Rudolpho), Isabel Williamson (Miss Honey) with a breathtaking version of “This Little Girl”), and Poppy Thomas-Fitzgerald (Mrs Phelps, the librarian). We saw the future of Wilnecote musicals shine bright with rising stars like Adelina Collins (Lavender) and Scarlett Hill (Amanda Thripp) holding their own amongst the seasoned performers.

Every member of the cast, from leads to ensemble, gave their all on stage. The energetic dance numbers, including “School Song” and “Revolting Children,” had the audience cheering.

Both performances sold out, an incredible achievement for the young cast! Performing to a packed house definitely ignited their passion, and the energy levels only grew stronger with each show.

Before the main event, the cast had the delightful experience of performing for local primary school students. This not only gave them valuable experience performing in front of a live audience, but also helped strengthen ties with feeder schools.

Months of dedication from students and staff culminated in a truly magical celebration of Wilnecote’s incredible talent. We can’t wait to see what show-stopping masterpiece they bring us next year!