{"id":350076,"date":"2025-08-16T21:34:09","date_gmt":"2025-08-16T21:34:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/350076\/"},"modified":"2025-08-16T21:34:09","modified_gmt":"2025-08-16T21:34:09","slug":"matilda-the-musical-overtakes-buddy-as-the-10th-longest-running-musical-in-west-end-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/350076\/","title":{"rendered":"Matilda The Musical overtakes Buddy as the 10th longest-running musical in West End history"},"content":{"rendered":"

Matilda The Musical<\/strong><\/a> hit a major new milestone today, 16 August 2025, jumping up the list of the West End\u2019s longest-running shows.<\/p>\n

At today\u2019s matinee performance, Matilda had played in the West End for 5,141 performances \u2013 and became the 10th longest-running musical<\/strong> in West End history.<\/p>\n

Matilda is also now the 14th longest-running overall show<\/strong> in West End theatre history.<\/p>\n

Matilda The Musical beat West End long-runner Buddy \u2013 The Buddy Holly Story<\/strong> to the 10th slot. Buddy closed at the Strand Theatre (now the Novello Theatre) in 1989 after 5,140 performances.<\/p>\n

Back on 15 April 2025, Matilda notched up its 5,000th performance<\/a> at the Cambridge Theatre<\/strong> in London; and it was only in December last year that Matilda became the 15th longest-running musical and 11th overall show<\/a> in West End history, beating We Will Rock You.<\/p>\n

Matilda still has some way to go to catch up to the longest-running shows in London, with the The Mousetrap<\/a> at the St. Martin\u2019s Theatre (since 1952) playing well over 30,000 performances, and Les Mis\u00e9rables<\/a> at the Sondheim Theatre (since 1985) well on the way to 16,000 performances. The musical also celebrates its 40th birthday in the West End<\/a> this October.<\/p>\n

Read more about the West End\u2019s longest-running shows<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Matilda in the West End \u2013 since 2011<\/p>\n

The Royal Shakespeare Company\u2019s hit adaptation of Roald Dahl\u2019s 1988 novel has been a fixture at the Cambridge Theatre since 2011.<\/p>\n

With a book by Dennis Kelly, songs by Tim Minchin and direction by Matthew Warchus, the production has become one of the West End\u2019s most enduring successes.<\/p>\n

Matilda currently stars Kieran Hill as Miss Trunchbull, Amy Ellen Richardson as Mrs Wormwood, Rakesh Boury as Mr Wormwood, and Lydia White as Miss Honey. Anna Deikalo, Ava Posniak, Sophia Saravanan and Estella Evans play Matilda.<\/p>\n

From 9 September 2025, the show will star Jon Robyns as Miss Trunchbull, Tiffany Graves as Mrs Wormwood, Neil McDermott as Mr Wormwood, and Eve Norris as Miss Honey, with Edie McCaig, Emilia Shefford, Suki Hillier and Mia Rogers as Matilda.<\/p>\n

The beloved show features design by Rob Howell, choreography by Peter Darling, orchestrations, additional music and musical supervision by Christopher Nightingale, lighting by Hugh Vanstone, sound by Simon Baker and special effects and illusions by Paul Kieve.<\/p>\n

RSC in the West End<\/p>\n

In addition to Matilda, the RSC has a strong West End presence this season. Their acclaimed production of My Neighbour Totoro<\/a><\/strong> is now playing at the Gillian Lynne Theatre; and their UK premiere of Born With Teeth<\/strong><\/a> starring Ncuti Gatwa (Doctor Who, Sex Education) and Edward Bluemel (Killing Eve, My Lady Jane) has now started performances at the Wyndham\u2019s Theatre.<\/p>\n

Coming up, Simon Russell Beale stars in the London transfer of Titus Andronicus<\/strong><\/a> at Hampstead Theatre (from 5 September), Toby Stephens stars in Wendy and Peter Pan<\/strong><\/a> at the Barbican Theatre (from 21 October), and Samuel West and Freema Agyeman star in Twelfth Night<\/strong><\/a> at the Barbican (from 8 December).<\/p>\n

Booking and Touring News<\/p>\n

Matilda The Musical is currently booking at the Cambridge Theatre until 24 May 2026.<\/p>\n

A new UK and Ireland tour of Matilda<\/a> will begin in Leicester in October 2025.<\/p>\n

Book Matilda The Musical tickets<\/a> at the Cambridge Theatre, London<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Matilda The Musical<\/p>\n

Cambridge Theatre,\u00a0London<\/p>\n

Offer: Save up to 48%<\/p>\n

Book tickets<\/p>\n

<\/a> <\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcf7\u00a0Main photo: Matilda The Musical. Photo by Manuel Harlan<\/p>\n

Related News<\/p>\n

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<\/a> Latest News<\/p>\n

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