Matilda The Musical

Matilda The Musical returns to the Donald Gordon Theatre at the Wales Millennium Centre from 9 December 2026, running through to 17 January 2027. It's the Royal Shakespeare Company's multi-award-winning show, based on Roald Dahl's book, with a book by Dennis Kelly, music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, and direction by Matthew Warchus. If you've read the book, you'll know the story: a precocious young girl with a love of reading and a knack for mathematics who finds herself at odds with her parents and the formidable headmistress of her school.

This isn't a new production. It first toured the UK and Ireland back in 2018 and 2019, and since then it's played at the Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon and toured to 100 cities across 17 countries, reaching more than 12 million people. It's picked up over 100 international awards, 24 of those for Best Musical, and has now been on stage for 15 years. So it's a well-travelled show by the time it reaches Cardiff.

On the practical side, it runs for about two hours and 35 minutes including one interval, and it's recommended for ages six and up. There are a few things to be aware of before you book: the production uses flashing lights, lasers, loud sound effects, and latex balloons that are popped onstage. If any of those are a problem for you or whoever you're bringing, it's worth keeping in mind. With the run stretching from early December into mid-January, there's plenty of room to find a date that works for you, whether you're looking for something over the Christmas break or a bit later in the winter.