Tim Minchin may not quite be as big a name as childhood hero Roald Dahl, the man upon whose book Minchin has co-created the musical Matilda, but at the ripe-young-age of 39 he has time up his immensely stylish sleeve, and based on his prolific creative output to date it’s a good bet he will have a crack at the title.

Not that he would let you say that. At Tuesday’s launch for Matilda the Musical in Sydney, Minchin was at pains to highlight the contributions of the entire ensemble to the show that has won a record number of awards overseas, prior to its arrival in Australia, only the third location after the West End and Broadway.

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“Matilda is a truly collaborative work,” said Minchin. An incredible theatre company – part government-funded, he says pointedly – a much-loved source text, adapted by an amazing playwright, massaged into existence by a brilliant dramaturge director, given movement by one of our generation’s most original choreographers, designed by a world class designer … and musicalised by a “foul-mouthed idiot from Perth who managed not to bugger it up”.

Tim Minchin. Photo: AAP

It was left to the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Executive Producer Andre Ptaszynski to sing Minchin’s praise.

“All of us connected feel a special homecoming to the Sydney opening because of the massive contribution as lyricist and composer that Tim has made to it. RSC is immensely proud to have produced this show with its mentally talented creative team.”

Minchin admitted that he was “unashamedly proud” of the show and “very, very excited that it’s finally coming home to Australia”.

“Hopefully everyone in the world will see it one day, but it’s genuinely special to me that it’s coming here to Sydney. I’ve lived in Melbourne and Perth and London and Los Angeles. Weirdly Sydney is where a hell of lot of really important things have happened in my life.

“2005 was the year that changed my life. I started that year at the Seymour Centre where I first straightened my hair and started wearing make-up, so Sydney was the birth of the character that allowed me to be here today.”

Minchin also gave an update on his next musical, the adaptation of the movie Groundhog Day.

“The beats of Groundhog Day are born of the lessons I learned through Matilda,” he admitted. “Groundhog Day has done a first workshop with a second workshop next year. It’s probably still 18 months from the stage, due to time and place scheduling and stuff. I’ve got one more song that I think needs to go in, but its written mostly. It’s cool. Pretty weird.”

For now he has brought home a show of which he is rightly proud, bearing the ultimate badge of honour.

“Roald Dahl’s widow Liccy told me that of all the adaptations of his work she had ever seen, she loved this best of all. And really that was good enough for us.”

Matilda the Musical opens on July 28 at the Lyric Theatre. Tickets are on sale from 9am Wednesday from TicketMaster.