Matilda or Hamilton?

[Doubleraspberry]

I’m taking DC (8) for a weekend in London as a huge treat. They adore music and I’m going to push the boat to get tickets to something we’d both love to see. We’ve narrowed it down to Matilda and Hamilton. Similar prices (can’t do the lotteries sadly given the flying visit and need for tickets on a specific date).

I know Hamilton has some swears but they are pretty oblivious - I can see there’s an advisory for under-10s owing to language but we’ve had the soundtrack on repeat for weeks already. They do find the politics tricky to follow in the second half so I’m slightly worried they’ll lose focus.

I have actually seen Matilda with an older sibling and adored it, so I’m very happy to go again, and of course it’s (a) more suitable overall and (b) not available on Disney+ any time!

I’m leaning to Matilda but anyone had smaller kids that ended up being blown away at Hamilton?

Too young for Hamilton, I'd say.

I thought this was a baby names thread!

I absolutely LOVE Hamilton, but I think 8 is a bit too young, unless they are already really into it.

The opening line has swearing in it, plus if they are not familiar with it, a lot of the story will go over their head and its also quite long.

Matilda at that age.

I would say Matilda for an 8yo. Hamilton is fabulous but would be lost on her.

Much as I am a Ham fan - I think at 8 Matilda would be better

I would never watch Matilda as it took one of the great female roles and gave it to a man just because she wasn’t a stereotypical feminine character. As if it is t hard enough for female actors out there.

Matilda. Hamilton is a bit more adult.

Matilda.

I can’t talk though as my then 5 year old got really into Hamilton in the first lockdown (even the swears). He now 2 years later has some excellent knowledge about American history and a real fascination with old presidents, odd in a 7 year old I’ll grant you but no apparent delinquent tendency’s 😂

Too young to fully enjoy Hamilton to be honest. Perfect age for Matilda!!

Matilda!

no issue with the swearing in Hamilton, but I wouldn't expect an 8 year old to sit through it.

it's one thing to enjoy the music, it's quite another to be able to follow & enjoy the show.

Watched both. My kids loved Matilda, definitely would be my choice for an 8 year old. We sat near the front in the stalls at Matilda, would highly recommend it

I would never watch Matilda as it took one of the great female roles and gave it to a man just because she wasn’t a stereotypical feminine character. As if it is t hard enough for female actors out there

I do agree with this point as well. Although annoyed I have still seen it more than once, I was pleased to see the new film has given the role back to a woman though.

although the appalling double standards of Emma Thompson getting stick for wearing a fat suit when the character is played routinely by a bloody man who gets no stick in the west end is also infuriating.

I should have made it clear that the reason it’s playing non-stop in our house is that my child is obsessed with it already! I wouldn’t just land a child into it from nowhere.

But I do lean towards Matilda for reasons of attention and full comprehension!

There was a kid about 10 years old in the row in front of us at Hamilton. Started off well but was restless by the second half and ended up fast asleep on his mother’s shoulder.

it’s tricky though- the big numbers in Hamilton are amazing to see live if you know them all already from the soundtrack, an 8 year old would enjoy seeing some of the highlights but the whole thing is just too long and dense for an 8 year old I think. Compromise watch Hamilton on Disney + and go to see Matilda?

Matilda. Hamilton is better but Matilda much more suitable for her age group.

We’ve seen it on Disney+ a few times already (and I know they get a bit fidgety when the politics piles in!). We have discussed and mutually agreed on Matilda. We’re seeing Six in the autumn (no. 1 favourite) and then Hamilton next year if the interest is still there.

Meanwhile I’m sneakily hoping that DH will get us Hamilton tickets for my birthday. He has been saying how amazing it would be to see it as we’ve been deciding this.

Mathilda. We saw Hamilton on Disney+ and my history mad D (12 then) struggled to follow the storyline and the whose's who. And she looked him up and did a read of the history behind it beforehand.

When we saw Hamilton the family next to us had a very young daughter, and she loved it. Six is good, but still quite political. Back to the Future was full of kids who loved it.

Hamilton is too complex and quick to follow. It opens with 'son of a whore' as the first line.

Matilda is excellent, watch out for them using the aisles and falling from the ceiling. The stalls about 7 rows back is so good for 'when I grow. Up' it's so so so good.

Matilda 100%

I'm dying to take DS to Hamilton but we told it's 10+

Hamilton is phenomenal but it’s very long. Best to wait a couple of years when they will appreciate it more v

my kids loved Matilda at the ages of 8 & 10.

Can I just say again that I only considered Hamilton because my child already knows and enjoys it? We know it well but I do know they get a bit fidgety when the politics really kicks in when we watch it on Disney. I’m not just thinking it’s a popular show and going in with no understanding of it.

I took my eldest to see Matilda a few years ago so am confident we’ll enjoy that anyway!

Matilda, hope your DC enjoys it.

Me too !!
Not seen H but LOVED Matilda