Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - change of venue
Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle
THERE’S been a change of venue for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which will now begin preview performances at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on May 18, 2013.
Previously Posted: It has now been confirmed that a new musical version of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will premiere at the London Palladium in June 2013.
Charlie Bucket loves chocolate and Mr Willy Wonka, the most wondrous inventor in the world, is opening the gates of his amazing chocolate factory to five lucky children. It’s the prize of a lifetime and more than anything else, Charlie would like a ticket.
The musical follows two successful film adaptations of the book – the most recent, in 2005, was directed by Tim Burton and starred Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka.
The stage adaptation, which has a book by David Greig and new songs from Hairspray‘s Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, will be directed by Academy Award winner Sam Mendes.
It was in 1999 that Mendes won the Oscar for best director for his debut film American Beauty, starring Kevin Spacey. More recently, the former artistic director of the Donmar Warehouse has worked with Spacey on The Bridge Project, a new transatlantic theatre venture linking London’s Old Vic with New York’s Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM).
Mendes is currently directing Skyfall, the latest James Bond film.
Produced by Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Neal Street Productions and Kevin McCormick, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will have set and costume design by Mark Thompson, choreography by Peter Darling (Matilda, Billy Elliot), lighting by Paul Pyant, sound by Paul Arditti and video and projection design by Jon Driscoll.
Musical director will be Nicholas Skilbeck, with orchestrations by Doug Besterman.
Tickets go on sale in October, with exact dates and casting yet to be announced.
The Wizard of Oz, with Des O’Connor as The Wizard and Sophie Evans as Dorothy, continues at the London Palladium until September 2, 2012.