We have been bursting to share this news for months, and now that the announcement is finally official, we can finally celebrate!
Everyone at Jaykays Dance Company is incredibly proud to announce some very exciting news. Our very own Petra has been cast as one of just five young performers sharing the title role in the current UK & Ireland tour of Matilda the Musical.
Petra first auditioned back in January. From there, she progressed through multiple rounds of auditions before being selected from thousands of children. As a result, she secured one of the most iconic children’s roles in musical theatre.
From the Jaykays Studio to the UK & Ireland Tour
The production opened at the Birmingham Hippodrome last week, where it will run until 2nd August, before continuing its UK & Ireland tour.
Following Birmingham, the production heads to Norwich Theatre until 6th September. It then travels to Dublin, Milton Keynes and Glasgow before finishing the tour in Cardiff.
Seeing one of our students perform on such a prestigious tour is an incredibly proud moment for everyone at Jaykays.
A Dedicated Young Performer
Away from the stage, Petra continues to train at Jaykays Dance Company in Leamington Spa, balancing life on tour with starting secondary school.
She studies Ballet, Tap, Contemporary Modern Jazz, Musical Theatre and Acro, and is also a valued member of our Associate Dance Teams.
Her success is the result of years of hard work, commitment and a genuine passion for performing.
Being cast as Matilda is one of the most sought-after opportunities in children’s musical theatre, making Petra’s achievement even more remarkable.
Patience, Resilience and Believing in Yourself
Reflecting on the audition process, Petra’s mum, Althea, shared that the journey taught their whole family the importance of patience and resilience.
From the first audition through to the final casting decision, Petra embraced every stage of the process, enjoyed every opportunity and is now incredibly excited to bring Matilda to life on stage.
It’s a wonderful reminder that success doesn’t happen overnight. Behind every opportunity are countless hours of training, determination and perseverance.
We’re So Proud of You, Petra
Petra, congratulations on this incredible achievement.
Watching your journey has been an absolute privilege, and we couldn’t be prouder of everything you’ve accomplished. We know this is just the beginning of an exciting new chapter, and everyone at Jaykays Dance Company will be cheering you on throughout your tour.
We can’t wait to follow your adventure as our very own Maggot takes centre stage as Matilda.
Break a leg, Petra… we’re all behind you every step of the way. 💛
Interested in Performing Arts?
At Jaykays Dance Company, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to discover their confidence, creativity and love of performing.
Whether your child dreams of one day performing on stage or simply wants to make friends, learn new skills and have fun, our welcoming classes provide the perfect environment to grow.
If you’d like to experience what Jaykays is all about, we’d love to welcome your child to our Summer School of Performing Arts, where children aged 5–11 years can enjoy four exciting days of dance, musical theatre, acting and acrobatics, finishing with a showcase performance for family and friends.
SUMMER SCHOOL OF PERFORMING ARTS
Could Your Child Be Next?
Every young performer starts somewhere.
Whether a child dreams of performing on stage, taking part in local productions or simply wants to build confidence and make new friends, every journey begins with learning the fundamentals in a supportive environment.
At Jaykays Dance Company, our Lower School and Upper School classes offer professional training in a wide range of dance styles, alongside opportunities to perform, take examinations, compete and develop as confident, well-rounded performers.
Petra’s story is a wonderful reminder of where dedication, resilience and a love of performing can lead, and we can’t wait to see where the next generation of Jaykays students will go.
👉Explore our Lower School dance classes for children in Years 1–6.
👉 Discover our Upper School dance classes for students in Years 7–13.
