Matilda magic from Ercall Wood students

Students from Ercall Wood Academy in Wellington have earned rave reviews for their performances of Matilda The Musical, inspired by the much-loved Roald Dahl story.

The production, staged over three consecutive evenings, involved students from every year group with a cast and crew of over 80 young people. 

Photos by Brian Clarke, Kidz in Focus

Principal Nick Murphy said: “It was a truly wonderful celebration of the talent, creativity and dedication within our school community.

“We are incredibly proud of every student who took part. Their confidence, teamwork and enthusiasm embodied the very best of our school values: to empower, respect and aspire.

“Productions such as this do far more than entertain – they help young people develop resilience, self-belief and collaboration skills that positively impact their learning and personal growth across all areas of school life.”

He added: “I would like to express my sincere appreciation to our outstanding team, whose passion, expertise and tireless commitment made this production possible.

“The countless hours of rehearsal, preparation and encouragement they provided ensured that our students were able to shine both on and off the stage.”

Mr Murphy said it was particularly exciting to see so many Key Stage 3 students taking on major roles.

“Their energy and commitment were inspiring, and it gives us great confidence in the future of performing arts at our school.”