Matilda The Musical and the Cambridge Theatre

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"Following a sensational sell-out season at The Courtyard Theatre, the RSC’s production of MATILDA THE MUSICAL has transfered to London’s West End.

Roald Dahl’s much-loved story bursts into life on stage in this brand new musical version by Dennis Kelly and award-winning musician and comedian Tim Minchin. Children and adults alike will be thrilled and delighted by the story of the special little girl with an extraordinary imagination.

The production is directed by Matthew Warchus and designed by Rob Howell with choreography by Peter Darling, lighting by Hugh Vanstone, musical supervision and orchestration by Christopher Nightingale, sound by Simon Baker and special effects and illusions are by Paul Kieve. The entire creative team has reassembled to create the London production."

Matilda the Musical is proving to be a huge hit at its new West End home, the Cambridge Theatre. Fun for kids, adults, the whole family.




The Cambridge Theatre is located in Covent Garden, just off of Shaftesbury Avenue. If you are travelling there in a wheelchair or scooter, just be aware that although the immediate area of Cambridge Circus is very easy to negotiate round, with all kerbs dropped, other streets in the area do have narrower pavements than others in the West End, so you may need to allow a little more time to travel to the theatre.

There are no steps into the foyer of the theatre, through two sets of double-swing doors. However, from here there are steps down into the stalls corridor and considerably more up to the dress and upper circles. All stairs have handrails either side and the steps are highlighted.

For wheelchair and scooter users and for those who cannot manage stairs, there is a level Access entrance through the third double exit door on Earlham Street. The theatre is open approximately 45 minutes before the show starts and if you notify someone at the main entrance, they will direct you to the Accessible entrance doors where someone will meet you. This leads straight into the Stalls corridor where there is also an accessible WC - please note however that this is the main corridor for all patrons to use before and after the show and during the interval. The accessible WC door opens out onto the corridor which can become extremely busy.

For scooter users and those who can transfer from a wheelchair, scooters and chairs are left in this corridor. There is a slight slope down into the Stalls. For those who need to remain in their chair, there are 2 spaces for wheelchair users in the Stalls at N1 and N34. For those that can transfer, any aisle seat in the Stalls can be booked (subject to availability). The theatre can store up to 4 wheelchairs and 2 scooters per performance.

For those requiring extra leg room, aisle seats and seats J1 and J8 have the most and also Box A, although this can only be accessed via 3 steps. The auditorium is fitted with an infra red system and the box office has a loop system fitted. There are 8 headsets available for use during the performance and these can be collected from the foyer. Assistance dogs are allowed into the auditorium. Alternatively, staff can dog-sit during the performance (maximum of 4 dogs per performance).

Unfortunately, feedback seems to show that staff at The Cambridge are not always that helpful and could be more disability aware. Although physically the theatre is accessible, please be aware that assistance there is not always that great and therefore if you do require help, it is best to take advantage of the second Access rate ticket you can obtain at the time of booking.

To book Access tickets to see Matilda the Musical (currently booking until 21st October 2012), please call the Access Booking Line on 0844 412 4648 - Access rates are subject to availability at each performance and don't forget the rate applies to both you and 1 companion, which equates to a fairly good discount for Stalls tickets.