Matilda The Musical will not only entertain audiences in Norwich this month; it will leave a lasting learning legacy for thousands of local school children
As thousands of excited fans prepare for the eagerly anticipated arrival of Matilda The Musical to the Norwich Theatre Royal stage this month, four lucky schools have been selected to take part in a very special project to ensure the show's legacy continues into the future.
Howard Junior School in King's Lynn, Edward Worlledge Ormiston Academy in Great Yarmouth, Ormiston Victory Acadamy in Costessey and Catton Grove Primary in Norwich have been selected as Matilda Champion Schools by the Royal Shakespeare Company, which produces Matilda and the Theatre Royal.
The two year education programme 'Change my story' enables teaching staff to work with professional theatre directors, choreographers and musical directors to produce a special version of Matilda The Musical to be performed this month in their schools.
The project also provides professional development training courses for teachers and workshops for pupils led by the RSC and those working in local theatre. Next year, the four chosen schools will work with other schools in their area to lead their own arts project inspired by the Matilda Champions' work.
Wendy Ellis, Theatre Royal learning and participation director, said: "Matilda Champion Schools is a fantastic opportunity for teachers, students and their families to experience a unique two-year programme of creative work. Whilst the musical is undoubtedly fun, exciting and engaging, it has at the core a very important message; we all have the ability to change our own stories if we chose to do so. We are very excited to support these schools on their very own journeys."
Multi award-winning Matilda The Musical is based on the beloved children's book by Roald Dahl. Michala Warner, vice principal at Edward Worlledge Ormiston Academy, said: "Pupils and staff are already developing in terms of confidence and new skills, both of which will enable them to fully participate, not only in the production itself, but as we look forward to working with other schools for our literary festival which will follow."
It is one of a number of projects which the theatre has undertaken this year bringing together professional theatre companies and performers with local schools and feeding into the curriculum. In January, students from two Norwich high schools took part in the RSC's touring production of Romeo and Juliet and last month, the Norfolk Schools Opera Project saw four schools from Thetford performing a children's opera on the Theatre Royal stage.
Matilda The Musical, July 16 to August 17; theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk, 01603 63000
