At Wales Millennium Centre
Take your seat to get transported to a world of pure imagination – where the magic, mystery and mayhem of the original Roald Dahl book and film is brought to life on stage in a riot of colour and special effects.
True to the original Charlie and the Chocolate Factory book, the show starts as we meet wholesome Charlie Bucket (played with a sweet innocence by young talented actor and singer Isaac Sugden on the night we visited). On a stage dominated by a massive metallic rubbish tip we see how kind-hearted Charlie spends his days trying to find useful gifts for his hard-working mother and four bed-bound grandparents living in poverty.
Charlie, Our Hero
Charlie is a child who makes something out of nothing. But who dreams of meeting the wacky inventor of everyone’s favourite chocolate creations, Willy Wonka.
So when we learn that Wonka is holding a competition for five lucky children to visit his factory and potentially win a year’s supply of chocolate – we’re of course rooting for Charlie.Â
But it looks like he’s out of luck. Instead, a group of contemptible, contemptible and cocky kids win golden ticket after ticket. As each winner is revealed, they tear up the stage in a whirlwind of staccato song, stomping dance and attitude! Now things are really heating up.
The Other Golden Ticket Winners
These unpleasant characters bring new energy into the show as they spring into action. There’s Augustus Gloop (Robin Simoes Da Silva) the belching, sausage scoffing son of butcher shop owners from Bavaria; Ballet-loving spoilt girl Veruca Salt (Emma Robothan-Hunt) who changes from pretty to petulant to vile and vicious in an instant if she doesn’t get exactly what she wants from her billionaire father. Third to win their ticket is Violet Beauregarde (Marisha Morgan) the gum-chewing bubble-blowing famous for the sake of being famous teenager. And next comes obnoxious chain-smoking telly and video-game-addict Mike Teavee (Teddy Hinde).
Praise has to go to the actors who took on double roles (and did such a good job it was tough to tell who was who!). Christopher Howell as Grandpa George and Mr Salt, Kate Milner Evans as Grandma Josephine and Mrs Gloop, Emily Winter as Grandma Georgina and Mrs Beauregarde and Leonie Spilsbury as Mrs Bucket and Mrs Teavee. Deaf actor Leonie also used British Sign Language in her role as Mrs Bucket which was a nice touch.
And Michael D’Cruze plays the perfect warm-hearted, gentle Grandpa Joe – who just wants the best for Charlie.Â
Welcome Willy Wonka!
Act Two really flies by in a flash. Not least because the fantastic and absolute star of the show Gareth Snook (Willy Wonka) takes command of the stage with his mad-hatted, mysterious – sometimes ominous, often sarcastic and always on point – portrayal of Willy Wonka. His acting is perfectly timed and his asides immaculate. We loved his succession of songs including Strike that, reverse it!, It must be believed to be seen, You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet and of course, Pure imagination.Â
As we enter Wonka’s mysterious factory, we could hear the gasps from children all around as clever digital projections onto the back, floor and sides of the stage created chocolate rivers and firework-like displays. They took us on magical boat and elevator rides and helped create clever conditions for each of the spoilt brats to meet their sorry ends. Helped along by the slightly-scary oompah-loompahs who took on robotic-like forms – think Doctor Who Cybermen who can dance!
If you want to give the family a fun fantastical night out, then get your tickets asap.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory The Musical is on at the Wales Millennium Centre until 20 May – get tickets here
Photos by Johan Persson