Matilda – a ‘dream role’ for lead actress

“Sometimes you have to be a little bit naughty” to survive, says 10-year-old Yeshiva College student, Amira Nathan, who is playing the lead role of Matilda in Matilda Jr. at the People’s Theatre in Johannesburg from 10 June to 27 July.

“I love Matilda. I’ve read and watched the movie more than 80 times. It’s one of my all-time favourites,” Nathan told the SA Jewish Report. She and two other young actresses are alternating in the lead role, which she says is a dream come true for her.

Matilda, a beloved children’s novel by Roald Dahl, was adapted into a hit stage musical and several film versions. At its heart, Matilda is the story of an extraordinary little girl with a brilliant mind and a strong sense of justice who dares to stand up against the cruelty and unfairness around her.

Matilda celebrates the power of intelligence, resilience, and kindness. It encourages children to think for themselves, believe in their inner strength, and never underestimate the impact of standing up for what’s right.

Nathan says she relates to Matilda, which is why it’s her favourite musical. “The way Matilda stands up for herself and is so strong really resonates with me,” she says. This isn’t Nathan’s stage debut. In December 2024, she was a part of the Aladdin Jr. production put on by the same theatre company. Acting is Nathan’s passion. “Everyone says I could sing before I could speak, and that I’ve been performing since the day I was born,” she says.

The audition process was long and gruelling, she says. “More than 250 girls auditioned, which was an overwhelming number to hear,” Nathan says. Nathan got a call back a few weeks after the initial audition to say she had been selected along with 80 others to continue with the audition process. Finally, after many callbacks and script readings, she received the call to say she had been chosen to play Matilda. “We were actually on holiday when I got the call. I was so excited. I was finally able to play my favourite character of all time.”

Every day for three weeks, Nathan would leave school at 13:30, an hour before school usually ends. “ My rehearsal schedule lasted three weeks. I was at the theatre from 14:00 until 17:30. As well as missing school, I also missed all my extra murals and stuff like that.

“My teachers and friends have been supportive,” says this Grade 5 student. “They helped me catch up my work and stay up to date with everything.  I’ve been told many times that I panicked too much about my work.” Having this support system made the experience a lot easier.

“The late nights after rehearsal were difficult – and still going to school the next day,” she says, recalling the tougher aspects of the production for her. “And I missed out on school activities because of the play.”

Nathan also battled with the rehearsals scheduled on Shabbat. “I keep Shabbat, so for the past four weeks, my mom and I have had to stay at a hotel near the theatre and walk every Saturday to rehearsals,” she says. Since the play is taking place in the winter season, walking early in the morning to get to rehearsals on time has been difficult for them. “Waking in the morning with this cold and having to walk from the hotel in the middle of Braamfontein has been an interesting experience,” she says.

Since three girls are alternating in the role of Matilda, Nathan hasn’t had to perform in the Saturday shows. “Since I did Aladdin Jr. last year, they knew I kept Shabbat, and they organised the shows around me,” she says.

Having “other Matildas” has also helped reduce stress for Nathan. “The days I’m not playing Matilda, I get to relax, and it gives me time to catch up on everything I have missed,” she says.

Nathan has taken one of her favourite lines in the play as her motto for overcoming any challenges. “If you sit around and let them get on top, you won’t change a thing,” is the line in the song, Naughty. “It offers a life lesson in that if challenges come your way and you do nothing to overcome them, nothing is going to happen to improve the situation,” she says.