Well-Deserved R&R

Did I really say rehearsals had ended in my last post? I should have known better…

The behemoth that is the Matilda UK Tour has now finished its fantastic Manchester leg and everyone is having a well-deserved week off before moving into the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, for a six-week run over Christmas. Most of the company have jetted off to find slightly warmer (or colder!) temperatures, whilst I plumped for a few days R&R at the Cheshire Abode, before a few days sorting out and catching-up back at my London flat (which I haven’t really seen since July).

The final few weeks in Manchester were busy on two fronts (not including the 8-show weeks): we completed our search for our final cast of children for 2019, culminating in a big weekend of auditions in London (shared with the West End production). Rehearsals begin again in January - not too far away! We have also welcomed Tom Mather to the show, who will be one of our swings. Brand new to the musical, he has now been in full-time rehearsals with us for the past 3 weeks and has already made a (brief) appearance during a couple of numbers in the show when we had a few people off. We continue to rehearse him into the rest of the show over the coming weeks as we settle into our Welsh run.

I’ve managed to catch a few other shows during the pockets of down time, finally seeing the fabulous Kinky Boots when it arrived in Manchester. Whilst back in London, I’ve tried to catch shows that I know close soon: Company at the Gielgud, and Bat Out Of Hell at the Dominion. I don’t think I could’ve seen two different types of musicals if I had tried! But really glad I got to see both fantastic companies before they end their runs early next year.

Talking of 2019, I don’t think I will get back to London in any notable capacity until at least February now. Our six-week run in Cardiff, which includes a busy Christmas schedule immediately followed by rehearsals for our new Miss Trunchbull, Elliot Harper, then goes straight into a few weeks at the Theatre Royal in Plymouth. I do at least get back to my parents in Cheshire for a couple of days around the Big Day itself, so that’s something to look forward to. Have a great Christmas! More updates in the new year.