Last night at the O2 arena in London, more than 8,400 children from 169 schools sang five songs by Tim Minchin in unison from the Royal Shakespeare Company’s multi-award-winning West End production of Matilda The Musical to an audience of 11,000 as part of the Young Voices children’s choir concert.
In total, more than 202,000 children are taking part in Young Voices 2024 from over 4,300 schools performing in 30 arena concerts around the country until the end of February.  Tim Minchin (music and lyrics) recorded a special video message for all of the children taking part and Lydia White (Miss Honey) made a special appearance last night to join the children in singing together the iconic music from the live stage production and recent blockbuster film: ‘Miracle’, ‘Naughty’, ‘School Song’, ‘When I Grow Up’, ‘My House’, ‘Revolting Children’ and ‘Holding My Hand’.
Working with one in four primary schools in the UK, Young Voices is an all-inclusive educational program designed to use music to develop skills such as communication, collaboration, creativity, mindfulness, and innovation. Young Voices have staged the largest children’s choir concerts in the world. To date they have played over 60 shows at The O2 arena – more than Adele, Ed Sheeran and Take That combined. With the belief that every child should be given the chance to find their love of music, since 1996 over two and a half million children have participated in a Young Voices concert worldwide.
Lydia White (Miss Honey) made a surprise visit to a class of school children at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Greenwich to talk to the children and hear how their rehearsals have been going.
The Royal Shakespeare Company’s West End production of Matilda The Musical is now in its 13th year and continues to play to packed houses at the Cambridge Theatre. Since the multi award-winning production opened in London, Matilda The Musical  has won 101 international awards including 24 for Best Musical and has been seen by 11 million people across more than 90 cities worldwide. A tonic for audiences of all ages, this anarchic production about a strong and determined heroine with a vivid imagination is now booking through to 15 December 2024. For further information visit www.matildathemusical.com.
Written by Dennis Kelly, with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin and developed and directed by Matthew Warchus, the production is designed by Rob Howell, with choreography by Peter Darling, orchestrations, additional music and musical supervision by Christopher Nightingale, lighting by Hugh Vanstone, sound by Simon Baker and special effects and illusions by Paul Kieve.
