Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
theatre
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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
In a co-production with Warner Brothers Theatre Ventures and Langley Park Productions, Neal Street brought Roald Dahl's deliciously dark tale of young Charlie Bucket and the mysterious confectioner Willy Wonka to life in a brand new West End musical. Featuring ingenious and ground-breaking stage craft, the wonder of the original story that had captivated the world for almost 50 years was brought to life for a new generation, directed by Sam Mendes, with book by David Greig and a new score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.
The musical premiered in London's West End at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 25th June, 2013 and ran for three years and 7 months before closing on 7th January, 2017. It was nominated for seven Olivier Awards. A reworked version of the show, directed by Jack O’Brien, opened on Broadway in Spring 2017 and ran until early 2018 before undertaking a major tour of the USA, followed by its Australian Premiere in January, 2019. A second US tour launched on 1 January, 2020 in Miami, Florida.
Winner of 2 Olivier Awards
See more >About
When Charlie Bucket wins a golden ticket to the weird and wonderful Wonka Chocolate Factory, it’s the chance of a lifetime to feast on the sweets he’s always dreamed of. But beyond the gates astonishment awaits, as down the sugary corridors, and amongst the incredible edible delights, the five lucky winners discover that not everything is as sweet as it seems.
A three-dimensional chocolate garden, an army of giant squirrels, the curiously peculiar Oompa-Loompas and an elevator that soared over the audience, were among the spectacular elements created with technical wizardry by a multi-skilled team of theatre-makers that included puppeteers, cutting edge automation and a cast of seventeen children making their stage debuts at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London.
Key Creatives & Cast
Key Creatives:
Based on the novel by Roald Dahl
Book by David Greig
Music and lyrics by Marc Shaiman
Lyrics by Scott Wittman
Directed by Sam Mendes
Set and Costume design by Mark Thompson
Lighting Design by Paul Pyant
Choreography by Peter Darling
Sound Design by Paul Arditti
Projection Design by Jon Driscoll
Casting by Pippa Ailion
Children's Casting by Jessica Ronane
Puppet & Illusions by Jamie Harrison
Musical Director Nick Skilbeck
Orchestrator Doug Besterman
Original Cast:
Douglas Hodge
Nigel Planer
Clive Carter
Jasna Ivir
Paul J. Medford
Iris Roberts
Billy Boyle
Roni Page
Myra Sands
Jack Shalloo
Alex Clatworthy
Kate Graham
Ross Dawes
Michelle Bishop
And a cast of highly talented children in the roles of Charlie Bucket, Veruca Salt, Augustus Gloop, Violet Beauregarde, Mike Teavee
At Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Willy Wonka was played by Douglas Hodge, Alex Jennings and Jonathan Slinger
Productions
Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London. 25th June 2013 - 7th January, 2017
Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, Broadway. 28th March, 2017 - 14th January, 2018
Reviews
“Sam Mendes whips up a tasty confection, rich, dark and not too sweet”
“A bumper box of entertainment with a Golden wrapper.”
“A lavish feast of a musical”
