By Shruti Menon Seeboo
There is something quietly radical about a school that believes theatre can change a child. Not just sharpen their posture or improve their diction, but genuinely shift something in them — build a spine of confidence where there was hesitation, draw out a leader where there was a follower. At Northfields International School in Mauritius, that belief is about to find its most ambitious expression yet, as 63 students prepare to take the stage at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute Theatre in Moka this June for a full production of Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical JR.
It is the school’s first large-scale production in several years, and the momentum behind it is palpable. Co-directing and co-producing the show are drama teachers Carleigh Akiti and Shaakira Soorjee, whose shared vision for the production stretches well beyond putting on a good show. For Akiti, who has been teaching theatre for over 14 years and studied the subject at university, the decision to mount a full musical this year was rooted in something simple but powerful. “I decided to organise a school production this year to highlight the amazing talent of our students and create an opportunity for our community to come together working towards something positive,” she says.
The choice of Matilda was no accident. A story about a small girl with a formidable mind, an unshakeable moral compass, and the courage to confront the adults who underestimate her, it speaks directly to the world its young cast inhabits. For a cast made up largely of first-time performers at Northfields, the resonance runs deeper still. “As this was the first school production since 2024, we have a very new cast with many being first-time performers,” Akiti explains. “This has required them to be courageous and take risks, pushing themselves to try something new.” As a piece of musical theatre, Matilda also makes extraordinary technical demands — requiring what the industry calls “triple threat” talent across singing, dancing and acting simultaneously. “We wanted something all-singing and all-dancing that could showcase the incredible talent of our students,” Akiti and Soorjee shared ahead of the production. “Additionally, it is a super relatable musical in a school environment with beautiful themes such as perseverance, resilience, and standing up for what is right. Audiences can expect to see raw talent, palpable energy, and infectious enthusiasm.”
Bringing those themes to life across a cast of 63 students has required a level of choreographic intelligence that goes well beyond simply teaching steps. Alexa Lagesse, the production’s choreographer, came to Northfields with a background in Musical Theatre and a clear sense of purpose. A dance teacher for four years who currently teaches Year 5 students at the school, Lagesse first heard about the production through her younger sister, who attends Northfields. Her passion for the performing arts did the rest. “When choreographing, I took inspiration from past stage performances of this musical to ensure this production had the intended spirit and energy,” she explains. “I also took into consideration that the students need to sing and dance at the same time, which alters the way I choreograph.”
Working with a cast spanning a wide range of ages and abilities, Lagesse took a deliberately layered approach. Rather than flattening the choreography to its lowest common denominator, she built in moments of genuine challenge for older students alongside more accessible movement for younger performers, weaving in space for individual expression throughout. “During the rehearsal process, I adapted the choreography to allow the older students to do more complicated moves at times and simplified moves for the younger students,” she says. “This allows each age group to shine and be adequately challenged. I also allowed for times in each song for the students to have the freedom to choose a movement or ‘acting’ moments.” For Lagesse, the rehearsal process has its own quiet reward — one that arrives at a specific, unrepeatable moment. “The most rewarding part of the process is when I have finished demonstrating the moves and I get to finally watch the students do the choreography by themselves for the first time,” she says. “I get to see my vision come to life. The students always performed with such enthusiasm and matched the intention of each song. It is truly one of the most rewarding parts and always has me smiling.”
The audience, she promises, will feel all of that in the auditorium. “Expect to see loads of talent. I believe the audience will be able to feel the love and passion that has been poured into this production.” There is a particular arc she hopes they will trace over the course of the evening — one that mirrors Matilda’s own journey from oppression to liberation. “Expect to see the students go from rigid, strict moves as they obediently follow the rules of Miss Trunchbull, to upbeat and free movements when they finally realise their power by the end of the performance.”
Behind the scenes, the production has required the kind of cross-disciplinary collaboration that reflects Northfields at its best. Coordinating teacher Rachel Cox oversees the set and props through a weekly club that runs every Tuesday, where students work alongside her to build everything the show requires — including, she notes with some delight, Bruce’s famous chocolate cake and a full bathroom mock-up. “The set and prop ECA allows students to not necessarily be interested in Drama or Singing, but instead Art and creativity, and still being a part of the show,” Cox says. Music, design technology and art teachers have all played a role, with faculty members providing one-on-one vocal coaching and the DT technician collaborating on the large-scale stage structures the production demands.
One of the production’s most distinctive decisions has been to dual-cast the lead roles across the two performance nights. The title role of Matilda will be shared between Caprice Rahme and Sofia Sommer, while Miss Honey will be portrayed by Victoria Straub and Olivia Potage. The formidable Miss Trunchbull will be played by Jessica Parsons. For Akiti, the thinking was straightforward. “Simply because we had so many talented performers during auditions, we wanted to give as many students the opportunity to shine as possible. It also means we have an automatic understudy if any issues arise.”
The development visible in the cast over the course of the rehearsal process has been one of the production’s most striking elements. “It has been incredible to see our young performers develop,” Akiti reflects. “Through intensive rehearsals and independent practice, the young people involved in this production have been phenomenal. We have seen students take on leadership roles and be supportive of their peers in the cast.” The ambitions for what audiences take away are clear and consistent across the team. “That the performing arts are accessible to all, create community and build confidence,” says Akiti simply. The cast and crew, she adds, “have developed exceptional self-management, creativity and leadership skills. They have come together as a team and their confidence has grown immensely from the start of the process.”
Lee Wilson, Executive Head of School at Northfields, has framed the production as a reflection of the school’s broader educational philosophy — and of its membership in the Inspired Education Group, for which the performing arts represent a core institutional pillar. “This reflects a community that understands education is about developing the whole child: academically, physically, socially, and creatively,” Wilson stated. “The level of participation is a powerful barometer of the creativity within Northfields, and of the care and skill with which our arts team nurtures that talent. Most of all, this production celebrates confident, expressive, and well-rounded young people.”
For Lagesse, the question of what it takes for school theatre in Mauritius to grow into something larger comes back to exactly that kind of investment — structural, sustained and starting early. “I think there should be more emphasis on performing arts in schools,” she says. “The subject allows students to gain so many amazing skills such as public speaking, self-confidence, teamwork, communication skills, and discipline. Drama elements should be integrated more in English lessons through role-playing, speeches, and reading plays.” Productions like Matilda, she argues, are the visible tip of something that can run much deeper. “Any exposure is an amazing way to reach a wide audience and get students involved in a fun way.”
Akiti, for her part, is confident that what is being built at Northfields will not stop here. “It is certainly something that is growing and developing, and I know it will continue to do so in subsequent years.” In the meantime, the curtain rises tonight — and again tomorrow. Matilda the Musical JR. plays at the MGI Theatre in Moka on 19th and 20th June, with both performances beginning at 6pm. Tickets are available online via Otayo or by scanning the QR code on the production poster.
