Roald Dahl’s Charlie and The Chocolate Factory.

CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY by Dahl, , Writer Roald Dahl, Director – James Brining , Book – David Greig, Music – Marc Shaiman , Lyrics – Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman , Set and Costume Designer Simon Higlett , Milton Keynes, 2023, Credit: Johan Persson/

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’s latest touring production is based on the original text by children’s author Roald Dahl and the Warner Brothers film. Everyone knows the famous story, of five golden tickets found by five lucky children inviting them into the mysterious Chocolate Factory owned by the eccentric Willy Wonka, every child’s dream.

Tonight’s performance of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory starred Jessie-Lou Harvie in the role of Charlie Bucket. The current touring production has four young actors taking on the main lead two girls and two boys. Watching a female lead worked very well.

Gareth Snook brought the classic Willy Wonka to life. I felt he was based more on the original character played by Gene Wilder, which will always be my favourite Wonka. The air of mystery, magical powers and an added dose of humour aimed at the adult audience is outstanding.

The Oompa Loompas in this adaptation has been changed into a form of “cyborgs”. They bought a sinister air to the production, which worked perfectly. However, as a brilliant creator, this would be far more in keeping with the Willy Wonka character and his ability to invent outside the box as opposed to the original storyline.

The stage backdrop screen allowed Willy Wonka to create a magical array of fireworks, his health and safety nightmare rollercoaster transportation and the iconic Chocolate River to life. The river takes greedy Augustus Gloop (ROBIN SIMÕES DA SILVA) off to fate after ignoring the rules of not touching it.

Although set in the 1980s, this is only advertised by the news headline board outside the sweet shop declaring the “Falklands War” Beyond this the main storylines are unaffected and the conditions in which the Bucket family live and exist remained the same.

The Theatre Auditorium saw an almost full house tonight, the majority being primary school-aged children. The laughter, intakes of breath and lack of bored fidgeting suggest they thoroughly enjoyed their evening out.

For further information on this touring musical and future productions at the New Wimbledon Theatre please use the links below.

Four Stars.

https://www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-wimbledon-theatre/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=gmb