West End date for gifted Aviemore all-rounder Ruairidh

Aviemore’s home-grown showstopper Ruairidh McDonald is ready to storm London’s West End in another exciting role – the best yet, he says.

The 23-year-old all-rounder, who has sung and acted his way to a series of top-notch roles in his highly eventful life on both stage and screen, is now in rehearsals having been chosen for the Royal Shakespeare Company’s smash-hit ‘Matilda the Musical’ at the Cambridge Theatre.

“I’ve just started,” he confirmed earlier this week, “and it’s going to be a lot of hard work as we have to be ready to go with the production in just six weeks, with our first night on September 12, but I couldn’t be more thrilled.

“It’s a fantastic production and definitely the highlight so far!”

Ruairidh was pictured with the new company and their director Matthew Warchus in a new promotional release.

The show itself needs no introduction, already having established itself as a multi-award winning hit, inspired by the beloved book by Roald Dahl.

With book by Dennis
Kelly and original songs by Tim Minchin, Matilda is the story of an extraordinary little girl who, armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, dares to take a stand and change her own destiny.

Winner of over 100 international awards, including 24 for Best Musical, the show has been delighting audiences in London’s West End for over a decade

“It’s an honour to be involved,” said McDonald, who has already tasted West End success with a showstopping run at the Charing Cross Theatre’s “Glory Ride”, which won rave notices for telling the moving story of Gino Bartali, the Tour De France winner of 1950 who had a secret life.

With his cycling career as a cover, Bartali cycled thousands of miles between cities across Italy.

Hidden in the frame of his bike were falsified identity cards and other secret documents to help victims of the Second World War cross borders to safety from Mussolini’s fascist regime.

His efforts saved hundreds of persecuted Jews and other refugees, many of whom were children.

McDonald, as violinist Felix, stole the show in April and May with his rendition of ‘A minor thing, a war’.

“That was a fascinating role,” he told the Strathy, “especially since I had to pretend I could play the violin! It was quite a mime act, I admit.”

Now he moves on to the Cambridge in a very different incarnation, as Matilda’s older brother Michael Wormwood who, quite frankly, is a lazy slob.

“It’s a great comedy role and a big departure from Felix. I’m really looking forward to getting into character!”

It’s yet another feather in a very plumey cap for the Aviemore star who started out at just three years old with tap and ballet lessons in the strath, before going on success as a drama and music student in Glasgow and London.

His credits include leading roles in Half A Sixpence and Peter Pan & Wendy – not to mention that urchin playing football with superstar Lionel Messi in a celebrated mobile phone advert to the back track ‘Never be Royal’ by Lorde when just a wee laddie (who did not even know who Messi was).

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