// BBC ENTERTAINMENT & ARTS — MODA & SOCIETÀ
Matilda celebrates 15 years as West End success story
Matilda The Musical is celebrating 15 years since its debut in London
A musical that began life as a Christmas production in Stratford-upon-Avon has become one of the biggest theatre successes of the century as it celebrates 15 years in London's West End.
Matilda The Musical, which is now the 10th longest-running musical in West End history, has been seen by more than 12 million people around the world, staged more than 10,000 performances and played in more than 100 cities.
Composer and lyricist Tim Minchin said he was still amazed by the show's success.
"Probably the biggest family musical of this century is written by [us] couple of idiots," he joked.
Based on Roald Dahl's classic children's novel, the production premiered at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon in 2010 before transferring to the West End the following year.
Composer Tim Minchin and writer Dennis Kelly said they never expected the show's global success
Written by Dennis Kelly, with music and lyrics by Minchin, the musical has gone on to win more than 100 international awards, including 25 for best musical.
Kelly said neither of them expected the production to become a global phenomenon.
"If we'd made a successful show at Stratford, we'd have been delighted," he said.