St Joseph’s School pupils Rhiannon, 7, and Tatum Hookey, 12, are, respectively, one of three girls playing the title role and one of two sharing the role of Alice.
They’ve been rehearsing for six months and relocated to Invercargill, with their parents, at the start of the second term.
Rhiannon, who says "I’m excited but also nervous", plays Matilda on opening night next Saturday, then for three other performances, but she’ll also be the off-stage Matilda for another four shows in case illness strikes the on-stage lead.
"Rhiannon’s learnt a huge monologue, it’s blown our mind how she’s retained the script," her mum Greer Ell says.
"It’s phenomenal for an 8-year-old."
Tatum will play Alice for eight performances including the final night.
"I’m very, very, very excited for the show," she says.
"And I just am so excited for everything that we’ve done in the rehearsal room to come to life on stage and just be ‘revolting children’."
Ell notes "the girls are at every single rehearsal with a mask on just to make sure they don’t catch anything in the final hour because there’s a lot going around Invercargill at the moment".
She adds the girls, who’ve been home-schooled this past term, have had great support from their school.
"I have to say it’s the most amazing adventure our family has ever had — we’ve only got wonderful things to say about our experience, and the directors have really pushed the girls to the point where it’s a super-professional production, from what I hear."
Like the other parents, Ell says she and husband, Dave Hookey, will only get their first glimpse of the show, and Rhiannon on stage, on opening night — Tatum debuts the following night.
