The story of Matilda, a gifted little girl who changes her own destiny with her extraordinary intelligence and telekinetic powers, has been delighting children for decades. The book even inspired a Hollywood film, but far more popular than the silver screen version is the musical which is about to be produced by Masquerade Malta at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, directed by anthony bezzina, and with the music played live by a 12-piece band.

The work of Dennis Kelly and Tim Minchin, Matilda the Musical premiered at Stratford-upon-Avon in 2010 and was transferred to the West End just a year later, where it continues to be performed today. Although this will be its Malta premiere, the musical has already toured the globe to great acclaim, winning over 90 international awards.

Many are familiar with Danny DeVito's interpretation of the story, but the musical version differs in many ways. "Like the book, the musical is set in England," explains Spiteri. "Matilda is younger in the musical than in the film, and there are minor plot points that were changed in the Hollywood version. The story we will be telling in the musical is more focused on Matilda's feelings, and the main theme is that of empowerment."

Roald Dahl's books were mainly written for children, but adults have been known to enjoy the author's stories just as much. This is even more the case with Matilda, where the reader (or viewer, in this case) follows the little girl as she realises her potential. "I would definitely recommend Matilda's heart-warming story to theatre-goers of all ages," Spiteri says. "I would also say that this show is for everyone, not just musical theatre lovers." 

Spiteri's role is not an easy one, especially in a musical like Matilda, where children form a large percentage of the cast. Three of the child actors - Michela Deguara, Michela Caruana and Leah Grech - will be alternating as Matilda. "It is such a pleasure to work with the three Matildas," Spiteri says. "What I find fascinating is the fact that the three of them are bringing a different Matilda to the show, which is remarkable for such young actors."

As for Spiteri himself, he admits that he used to feel the pressure when working on popular musicals like Matilda. "I have watched this musical around six times in London, and every time there was something different. There are so many valid interpretations of the show and that made me reflect a lot," he shares. "So I decided to base my own interpretation on the different versions that I had heard which, ultimately, had to be presented to the director of the show. Teamwork is of the essence, as in any production."

As if producing a musical of this scale wasn't challenging enough, Kris and his colleagues have had to contend with the covid-19 pandemic and the resulting restrictions. Matilda was, in fact, originally slated for 2020. Luckily for theatre-lovers, most restrictions have now been lifted and experiencing the magic of the theatre is once again possible.

Despite all the challenges, people like Spiteri and his colleagues at Masquerade have been working relentlessly behind the scenes to keep their art alive, even as the future of the performing arts was uncertain. "I am very grateful for the cooperation of the cast, the creative team, and the band, and to Masquerade for giving me this opportunity," he concludes.

Matilda The Musical will run between 16 and 30 April at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta. Tickets can be purchased at www.showshappening.com. Make the most of Masquerade's Easter offer, valid only for tickets to performances on 16, 17 and 18 April over Easter weekend - buy four tickets and get two free.

Further information is online at www.masquerademalta.com. This project is supported by Arts Council Malta.