Maggots Beware! Craige Els to Join London Cast of Matilda as Miss Trunchbull

Craige Els is preparing to throw that hammer in London’s Matilda! He will start performances as Miss Trunchbull from September. Matilda Shapland and Violet Tucker will also join Tasha Chapple and Lottie Sicilia in the title role from September onwards.

Els’ stage credits include Mamma Mia!, The New Yorkers, Never Forget, Spamalot, Timon of Athens, Antigone and The Cherry Orchard. His screen credits include Ripper Street, The Bletchley Circle and Call The Midwife.

The adult cast of Matilda currently includes James Clyde as Mr Wormwood, Haley Flaherty as Miss Honey and Kay Murphy as Mrs Wormwood.

Directed by Tony and Olivier Award winner Matthew Warchus, Matilda features music and lyrics by Tim Minchin and a book by playwright Tony winner Dennis Kelly. The musical is based on Roald Dahl’s 1988 book about a girl who unleashes her magical powers on nasty parents and an evil headmistress. The show premiered at the Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon in November 2010 before transferring to London’s West End on October 25, 2011. The production won a record-breaking seven Olivier Awards in 2012 including Best New Musical. Matilda continues its run at the Shubert Theatre on Broadway, where it opened on April 11, 2013.