Daniel Frederiksen Says Matilda The Musical Ain't Just For Kids

You'd imagine that having a leading role in a high profile musical would by design entail a lot of singing and dancing, but it ain't necessarily so. NIDA-trained Daniel Frederiksen has substantial experience to his name on both stage and screen —  receiving both Logie and AFI nominations along the journey — but he's found his role as Mr Wormwood in the impending production of Roald Dahl's Matilda cruisy so far to say the least.

"I haven't found the lead-in very taxing to be honest, because I have absolutely zero ability when it comes to singing and very, very little when it comes to moving, let alone dancing, I have a lot of time off in the rehearsal process," he laughs. "I've got one song, but it's what they call a character song so it's basically for meat puppets — for actors like myself who can't sing — and you just have to put on a character and you're done. It's basically keeping time with the rhythm and you're done. And it's still considered a lead part so it's great — you get all of the ego boost with half of the work."

"I've got one song, but it's what they call a character song so it's basically for meat puppets."

Frederiksen — who admits being a Dahl fan growing up — says that he's stoked to be adding Matilda to his CV.

"I was in rehearsals [for Matilda] the other day watching it, and what I found fascinating was watching the dance moves and how all of the dancing that people are doing is telling a story," he enthuses. "It doesn't look like traditional dance that I would understand from seeing musical theatre — you know how kids will walk along and they're scratching their faces and rubbing their arm on their nose and then rubbing the snot on their pants, like kids do? All of that's been incorporated into the moves in this beautifully crafted observational and artistic manner. I think that's something different to your standard musical."

And while Matilda might have ostensibly been a book for kids, the musical version is for folks of all ages and persuasions.

"I guess it's like The Simpsons or similar aspects of culture where kids can get it on a level — and will, because it's about a child, it's about Matilda — but the humour's really dark, and the stuff it's talking about is really risque at times," Frederiksen smiles. "So adults won't just be able to come along and passively enjoy it as well, it's more like, 'Oh my God, what an amazing experience!' That's what my friends who've seen it overseas tell me anyway."

Does the fact that Matilda — which opened in the UK in 2010 and features songs by Tim Minchin — has done so well on West End and Broadway add pressure or alleviate stress because you know the production is a winner?

"I think it alleviates it," Frederiksen tells. "[Matthew Warchus] who's directing it has been involved with it for four years and seen it something like 700 times, so if he says that something is the best way to interpret it at this moment you can trust he's on the money."