Resource Review: Matilda the Musical education resources
Hattie Fisk
Thursday, September 1, 2022
Hattie Fisk takes a look at the new education resources from Matilda the Musical and establishes how they can be used in the Drama classroom.
MANUEL HARLAN
The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) has enhanced its educational programme for Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical with an updated pack of teaching resources and new planning guides. Schools can request a free education pack that contains two educational resources that focus on a character and plot, a bookmark, a certificate and lots of information about the production.
As I leaf through the pack it is evident that this was created by a teacher, for a teacher, as it is ready for the classroom and can be easily adapted to suit the needs of different classes. There are suggestions on what segments of the website teachers should browse prior to the lesson, and reflection exercises to cement the findings of each activity with students.
Having seen the show, it is easy to understand how the plot and characters are the perfect option to bring into a drama lesson, however the pack makes clear that these resources may be used regardless of whether the students have seen the production or not. With transferable links to different subjects and topics written at the top of each activity, as well as accompanying virtual tools, it is clear that these resources have been created truly to support the teacher, rather than to ensure ticket sales of the production in any way. The activities are simple, but fun and informative.
There is also a bank of online resources that are split into five sections, and most of the educational tools have accompanying content, such as videos. From September, more online resources and further information for teachers will be available online; in-person workshops for schools led by RSC practitioners will also be available, providing classes with the option to explore the show practically – an option that can be tailored to meet the needs of students aged six and above.
A lovely element of the new educational push from the RSC comes in the form of its reading competition, where teachers can encourage their students to ‘read like Matilda’, choosing an achievable target for their class, and awarding them with the certificate provided in the education pack. Alongside offering the new resources, the RSC has partnered with The School Trip to offer hands-on support for teachers who wish to book a trip to see Matilda the Musical.
With the upcoming Netflix adaptation of Matilda coming out soon, it is the perfect time to unpack the production with your students, and these free resources are a brilliant starting point for that.
