We Chat With the 3 Kids Who Star as Matilda in ‘Matilda: The Musical’

Are you as excited as we are about the multi-award-winning ‘Matilda: The Musical’ at Marina Bay Sands? We chat with the show’s three young actors who play Matilda!

Roald Dahl fans have been eagerly anticipating Matilda: The Musical, which took the theatre world by storm from the moment it debuted in 2011! The musical has since racked up 101 major awards (including 24 for Best Musical), delighting audiences young and old all over the globe. Over 100 children have played the title role worldwide and the current stars in Matilda: The Musical are Donna Craig, Myla Williams and Yolani Balfour. Of course, we jumped at the chance to interview them.

Read more: Best Kids’ Theatre Shows in SG

Donna Craig
Donna Craig stars as Matilda in the International Tour of Matilda the Musical. She trains at the Waterfront Theatre School in South Africa and is a member of the Springfield Choir in Cape Town. She enjoys running cross country and playing netball.

What first got you interested in drama and how long have you been involved in acting and singing?
As soon as I started to talk, I started to sing. My parents would take me to shows from a very young age and that got me interested.

What is your favourite scene in the show and why?
The scene with the song Bruce. It is energising and gives you courage when Miss Honey and Matilda unite as a family, because eventually, Matilda finds a loving home.

What’s been the hardest part about your role?
I found the accent very difficult at first.

Do you get nervous before a performance and how do you deal with this if so?
Yes I do. If I am nervous I just take deep breaths and think happy thoughts.

What’s your daily schedule like on performance days (what time do you get to bed and how do you fit school in)?
I go down to breakfast as late as possible. Do a bit of school and rest before the show. We need to be at the theatre two hours before the show starts for warm ups and focus. It is very difficult to fall asleep after the show but I try to get 10 hours sleep.

How long are you on the Matilda the Musical tour?
The tour is for a year but we do get to go home for short periods. We are in Bangkok for about two weeks before we head off to Singapore.

Aside from Matilda do you have any other favourite books and why?
I love reading David Walliam’s books because they are goofy and have a great sense of humour. But what I really enjoy at the moment is a very simple book called ‘The boy, the mole, the fox and the horse’.

Do you have any advice for other kids who aspire to be on the stage?
Always follow your dreams and practice makes perfect.

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Myla Williams
Myla plays the piano and enjoys writing her own songs and stories. She is a fan of all things Roald Dahl, swimming, the ocean and riding her bike. Myla fell in love with musical theatre in 2022 when she played Amanda Thripp in a community theatre production of Matilda in South Africa.

What first got you interested in drama and how long have you been involved in acting and singing?
When I was 6 years old I had a part in Les Miserables for a school production but I have been singing and acting since I can remember.

Do you attend any drama/singing lessons?
Yes, I started drama at the start of 2023 and my mom is my singing teacher although I have had no formal singing lessons per se.

Do you get nervous before a performance and how do you deal with this if so?
I don’t really get nervous anymore; when I started the role of Matilda I was quite nervous and tried to not focus on the audience and more on the action on stage.

How long are you on the Matilda the Musical tour?
I will be on the tour till the end of June 2024 visiting Singapore and Abu Dhabi.

Aside from Matilda do you have any other favourite books and why?
I like all stories by Roald Dahl, The Secret Garden, Billionaire Boy and all stories by Enid Blyton.

Do you have any advice for other kids who aspire to be on the stage?
If you really want to be on the stage just go for it and know that you have to work hard to succeed!

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Yolani Balfour
Yolani Balfour has starred in Aladdin, (Little Theatre, South Africa), Music Movies Magic (Savoy, South Africa), and Dream the Revue (Little Theatre, South Africa).

What first got you interested in drama and how long have you been involved in acting and singing?
I started attending a Performing Arts Academy when I was seven years old and I just loved it. Aside from that, I attend a drama school.

What were the auditions like?
The auditions were very nerve-wracking and I was so nervous. 

What is your favourite scene of Matilda the Musical and why?
My favourite scene is the Playground scene because when Miss Trunchbull throws Amanda Thripp it’s really cool – the scene is very fun. 

What’s been the hardest part about your role?
The hardest part about playing Matilda is not smiling because I am a very bubbly person and I always have a smile on my face. 

Do you get nervous before a performance and how do you deal with this if so?
Yes, I do get nervous but when I get on stage it goes away but if that fails I take deep breaths when I am not speaking.

What’s your daily schedule like on performance days?
I wake up in time for my class with our tutor. Some days I go sightseeing and some days I rest.

How long are you on the Matilda the Musical tour?
Before Singapore, we went to four different countries and after this one we go back home for a few weeks. Then it’s back on tour for a few more countries.

Aside from Matilda do you have any other favourite books and why?
The twits. It’s really funny.

Do you have any advice for other kids who aspire to be on the stage?
Work hard for your dreams and don’t give up on them!

Thanks so much girls, we can’t wait to catch you on stage. Break a leg!

Matilda: The Musical is playing at Marina Bay Sands from 9 March to 7 April 2024. To purchase tickets visit Sistic or the MBS box office!