Our very own Bruce Bogtrotter – Adam (7C) stars in Matilda!

We recently interviewed Adam (7C), who played Bruce Bogtrotter in the West End production of Matilda the Musical (MTM) at the Cambridge Theatre, from September 2024 to September 2025. We were fortunate that many members of the school community came to watch the show and see Adam live in action!

How did you first get interested in performing?
I have always loved the theatre. My mum used to take me when I was very young (about two to three years old), and I was always mesmerised by the live performances. My mum says it was the only time I would sit still! Throughout my school life, I have taken up opportunities to perform in different ways and built up from there. My mum took me to see MTM on my seventh birthday, and I wanted to be in the show!

How old were you when you started doing theatre?
I was around seven years old when I started performing in roles at my local theatre, and nine years old when I got the part of Bruce Bogtrotter in MTM.

What was the audition process for Matilda like?
It was really tough. I went through five rounds of auditions before being offered the role. There were lots of children, and we were given a script to learn. Each round was an elimination round, so it was quite nerve-wracking performing in front of all the creative directors. At the time, I did not know what they were looking for, but MTM did a really good job of making us feel at ease and making it fun. Once I relaxed, I actually enjoyed parts of it.

After being cast, I had a 13 week rehearsal schedule, six days a week, during the summer of 2024.

How did you feel when you found out you’d been cast as Bruce Bogtrotter?
I was delighted! Bruce is the lead male child role in the show, and he loves chocolate cake – just like me! I could not believe they chose me.

What do you love most about playing Bruce?
I got to wear body padding as part of my costume, which was lots of fun! Also, Bruce is a likeable character who is bullied by Miss Trunchbull. I enjoyed playing him because he is the underdog who triumphs in the end.

The chocolate cake scene is iconic – what is it like doing that on stage?
It is a lot of fun and very comical in the lead-up to the actual eating. Both children and adults enjoy the humour. I love that there is a whole scene and song dedicated to Bruce, and I really enjoy the audience’s reaction when he beats Miss Trunchbull at her own game.

Is the cake real? And how much of it do you actually eat?The cake itself is a stage cake, so it is not real, but I do eat chocolate brownies and cream in every show! I have to smother the cream all over my face and clothes, which is great fun, but by the end of my run it was a little icky.

Do you have a favourite moment in the show besides the cake scene?
Yes, I love my scene at the end when the children beat Miss Trunchbull and I stand on the desk to lead ‘Revolting Children’. The whole audience joins in and the theatre really comes alive!

What has been your best experience so far as part of the show?
My most memorable experience has been standing in for another character as well as playing Bruce. I once played the role of Nigel, because the child who played him was sick. That is the scene where he runs on stage and hides under the blazers pretending to have narcolepsy. It was so much fun seeing the stage from a different perspective.

Was there a challenge you faced during the show, and how did you turn it into something positive?
Yes. In one of my early shows, the handheld microphone I use for ‘Revolting Children’ fell out of my blazer pocket and under the stage. When it came time to use it again, I just had to sing extra loud using only my head microphone. I don’t think the audience noticed, but I definitely had to rest my voice afterwards.

There was also a ‘show stop’ once because the desks did not go down fully during the ‘Revolting Children’ scene. Since the desks rise and fall with stage mechanics, the show had to be stopped briefly for safety. The pause lasted about a minute, then we picked it up exactly where we left off. Despite the disruption, the audience cheered.

I love live theatre because you have to react when things go wrong. There is always a buzz backstage when that happens.

What is it like balancing school and being in a West End production?
I was in the show for over a year, and it was quite challenging at times to keep up with schoolwork and still participate in school life while meeting theatre commitments. There were quite a few late nights, and I sometimes felt very tired. The most important thing is to be organised and use your time efficiently. I often completed homework or catch-up work while on standby at the theatre. I have also been very lucky to have support from both my family and the school.

How do you keep your energy up for so many performances?
I try to rest as much as possible when I’m not at the theatre, and I have had to cut out many extracurricular activities so I can give the show my best. The audience pays a lot of money for tickets, so it is important to give them a performance of the highest standard.

Who inspires you the most in the cast or crew?
The actress who played Miss Honey really inspired me, as did many of the other fantastic actors. She had an incredible voice and was always a pleasure to work with. She inspired me to want to sing better and look after my voice. All of the actors had a very strong work ethic.

What’s something you’ve learned from this experience that you’ll never forget?
I have learned resilience. When things get tough, just power through. This applies to early mornings at school after late shows or performing even if I feel tired. I will never forget this entire experience. I have had fantastic training, met incredible people, including Dennis Kelly and Tim Minchin (who wrote the show and its music and lyrics), and made some great friends. I feel very lucky to have had the privilege to work with such amazing people.

Do you want to keep performing when you’re older?
As much as I love acting and being on stage, I also love music. I would like to be a performer in many genres, whether music, theatre, or acting. I also believe the skills I have learned can be applied to many other careers, so I do not want to rule anything out. I love performing, so I hope I will always be able to do it in some way.

What advice would you give to other kids who dream about being on stage one day?
Just go for your dreams and always try your best. Reach for the stars and never give up. Believe in yourself, even if others doubt you. And even if it does not work out, you will always be able to look back and say you tried. Above all, have fun!

Congratulations to Adam on his performance in this renowned show – he has certainly embodied our values of ambition, curiosity and courage! We are proud to support and encourage our students to pursue their passions and look forward to hearing more experiences similar to Adam’s.