MATILDA AND ME
MATILDA AND ME: the story of Tim Minchin and the making of a smash hit musical; ABC TV, 3 April 2016 at 7.40pm. Photo above: Tim Minchin and sister Nel; right with Matildas.
After a successful (Sydney Theatre Award-winning) run in Sydney, the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Australian production of Matilda - the Musical is now in Melbourne. As the subtitle of the doco (above) suggests – this is the story behind the show.
Our very own Tim Minchin is described in the ABC TV media release as a “loud-mouthed iconoclastic comedian” who has evolved into “Australia’s most recognised musical theatre export.” Reasonable description – but it does say a lot about the RSC that they took the risk in commissioning him to compose the musical, based on Roald Dahl’s book. And it says a lot about Tim that he took it on.
The documentary has been made by Tim’s sister Nel Minchin – she narrates and co-directs (with Rhian Skirving) and that background of closeness and knowledge serves to make the resulting film rather special.
As Nel says, “Anyone who has a brother or sister knows what it’s like to grow up so close to someone, and yet still be surprised at who they turn out to be. It was a chance for me to go back in time and piece together how my brother Tim became ‘Tim Minchin’ right before my eyes.”
Filmed as Matilda was rehearsing in Sydney, it’s interesting to realise how keyed up were the cast and creatives – as the show was already a huge hit on the West End and Broadway – it also features archive footage and interviews.
Tim told the ABC, “When Nel approached me about being involved in a Matilda doco, I was mostly just excited that she (and her co-director, Rhian, who is one of my best mates) had an excuse to come to LA to hang out. But what they’ve created is really lovely and surprising. They have explored my (unremarkable) origin story, and woven it beautifully into the (remarkable) origin story of this musical...celebrating the world-class Aussie theatre industry on the way. Clever sis.”
Whether or not you’ve seen Matilda in the theatre (you should if you can get to it) this film offers a unique insight into one of Australia’s most extraordinary talents: Tim Minchin.
