Matilda – When Literature Comes to Life
During our lessons, my students and I explored the work of one of the most celebrated British children’s authors, Roald Dahl. We discussed his distinctive writing style, imagination and humour, as well as the recurring themes in his stories: courage, justice, individuality, overcoming challenges and believing in oneself.
Since Matilda is one of his best-known and most beloved works, I wanted to take our literary exploration one step further – beyond textbooks and classroom discussions. I wanted my students to experience the story in a different way, through the magic of live theatre.
Getting tickets, however, was no easy task. The performance was completely sold out, but somehow, I managed to secure tickets, and our cultural outing became a reality!
We were also delighted to be joined by Year 8 and the other half of our Year 7 group, making it an even more special shared experience. A big thank you to Mr. Roman, Ms. Miška and Mr. Evan for joining us as accompanying teachers and helping make the trip possible.
And it was absolutely worth it. Watching my students enjoy the theatre, become immersed in the story and respond to the scenes, music and performances was an experience in itself.
Moments like these remind me that learning does not end when we close our textbooks.
The story also opens up meaningful discussions about fairness, equality, responsibility and the importance of ensuring that every individual is heard and respected.
For me, the most rewarding part was seeing how a piece of literature we had explored in the classroom could engage and inspire students beyond it. They took away not only the excitement of seeing a musical, but perhaps also a deeper understanding of the story, its characters and its message.
I strongly believe that experiences like these help students develop an appreciation for culture and the arts while fostering a lifelong love of learning. Sometimes, the most meaningful lessons happen far beyond the classroom walls.
And Matilda reminded us once again that we are never too small to make a difference and take control of our own story.
