Alisha’s passion: Lead role in Matilda the Musical

Young Knocklyon performer Alisha Weir has been wowing audiences around the world with her energetic performance as Matilda Wormwood in the recently released ‘Matilda the Musical’ film.

The 13-year-old’s passion for performing was developed when she started attending singing and drama classes run by Maureen V Ward, who recognised the young girl’s talent at an early age.

Speaking to The Echo shortly after landing in New York for the premiere of ‘Matilda the Musical’, Maureen said: “Alisha used to travel in the car with both of her older sisters, Katie and Emma Jane, to their singing and drama classes with me.

“One day Alisha came into the class and was sitting listening to them singing lots of different songs, including opera and musical theatre.

“I noticed she was singing along with them and knew all of the words – some even in foreign languages. She must have been two years of age!

“So, I got her to stand up and sing what she knew, and she was word-for-word perfect, pitch perfect and the cutest tiniest little thing ever.

“She then proceeded to recite her older sisters’ poems and monologues that they had been preparing for their exams. I knew then that Alisha was a star!”

The young girl then joined Maureen’s Talented Kids Performing Arts School and the MVW Talent Agency in Clondalkin.

Since then, her star has continued to ascend and last year she found out she’d been cast in the lead role of ‘Matilda the Musical’ after going through an audition process.

“Alisha was cast as Matilda during Covid, so the majority of her preparation, i.e. her singing and drama audition pieces, were all done with me over Zoom,” explained Maureen.

“When she got cast it was the most amazing feeling ever. I cried, her family cried, and it was just so amazing! Especially during such troubling Covid times, we were all over the moon!

“I am so extremely proud of Alisha. I cried during the film the first and second time that I saw it and was a blubbering mess. She is absolutely incredible on screen. I am so, so proud of her.”

‘Matilda the Musical’ is out now in cinemas.