Casting Update For World Premiere Of Roald Dahl’s Charlie And The Chocolate Factory

Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Neal Street Productions and Kevin McCormick today announced further casting for Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which opens at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 25th June 2013, directed by Sam Mendes.

Alongside Douglas Hodge as Willy Wonka, the cast will include Nigel Planer as Grandpa Joe, Clive Carter as Mr Salt, Jasna Ivir as Mrs Gloop, Paul J Medford as Mr Beauregarde, Iris Roberts as Mrs Teavee and Myra Sands as Grandma Georgina.

Other cast will include Joe Allen, David Birch, Michelle Bishop, Mireia Mambo Bokele, Matthew Clark, Alex Clatworthy, Jennifer Davison, Luke Fetherston, Nia Fisher, Kate Graham, Clare Halse, Mark Iles, Daniel Ioannou, Kieran Jae, Jane McMurtrie, Natalie Moore-Williams, Sherrie Pennington, Damien Poole, Paul Saunders, Jack Shalloo and Jay Webb.

Further casting to be announced.

When Charlie 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 not everything is as sweet as it seems.

ROALD DAHL’s deliciously dark tale of young Charlie Bucket and the mysterious confectioner Willy Wonka comes to life in a brand new West End musical directed by Academy Award® winner Sam Mendes.

Featuring ingenious stagecraft, the wonder of the original story that has captivated the world for almost 50 years is brought to life with music by Marc Shaiman, and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman (Grammy® winners for Hairspray; Smash), a book by award-winning playwright and adaptor David Greig (The Bacchae; Tintin In Tibet), set and costume designs by Mark Thompson (Mamma Mia!; One Man, Two Guvnors) and choreography by Peter Darling (Billy Elliot; Matilda).

Douglas Hodge is a four time Olivier-nominated actor/director, who has worked at the National Theatre, the RSC, Shakespeare’s Globe and the Royal Court Theatre. On Broadway, he recently starred at the American Airlines Theatre in the title role of Cyrano de Bergerac, for the Roundabout Theatre Company. He won the Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for his Broadway debut in La Cage Aux Folles, having already won the Olivier Award for the same performance in London. For ten years he worked closely with Harold Pinter, and he was Associate Director at the Donmar from 2007 to 2009. He has released two albums of his own compositions ‘Cowley Road Songs’ and ‘Nightbus’, and won the Stiles and Drewe 2012 Best New Song Award for ‘Powercut’. Alongside numerous television credits, his feature films include Vanity Fair, Robin Hood, the soon to be released Serena, and Diana – in which he plays Paul Burrell, butler to Diana, Princess of Wales.

This world premiere musical is produced by Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Neal Street Productions and Kevin McCormick.

Book tickets to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London

 

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane

Following the huge success of Matilda The Musical, another classic Roald Dahl tale gets a musical makeover as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory comes to the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London.

Featuring young Charlie Bucket and the madcap confectioner Willy Wonka, Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Choclate Factory is brought to life in a major new West End musical directed by Oscar-winner Sam Mendes (Skyfall).

Starring Olivier and Tony-award winner Douglas Hodge as Willy Wonka, this spectacular new musical will feature stunning sets and costumes by Mark Thompson (Mamma Mia!), breathtaking choreography by Peter Darling (Billy Elliot The Musical; Matilda The Musical) and acclaimed music and lyrics by the team that created Hairspray The Musical – Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.

In Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Charlie Bucket wins a golden ticket to visit the weird, wonderful world of the Wonka Chocolate Factory. For five lucky winners it is the sweet-tooth chance-in-a-lifetime to venture into the sugary world of chocolate paradise. But not everything is as sweet as it seems in this darkly comic tale of chocolate gardens and Oompa-Loompas.

Directed by Academy Award-winner Sam Mendes, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory promises to be the biggest musical opening in 2013.

The cast includes Douglas Hodge as Willy Wonka; Nigel Planer as Grandpa Joe; Clive Carter as Mr Salt; Jasna Ivir as
Mrs Gloop; Paul J Medford as Mr Beauregarde; Iris Roberts as Mrs Teavee; Billy Boyle as Grandpa George; Roni Page as
Grandma Josephine; Myra Sands as Grandma Georgina; Michelle Bishop as Mrs Pratchett; Alex Clatworthy as Mrs Bucket; Jack Shalloo as Mr Bucket; and Kate Graham as Cherry.

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Theatre: Theatre Royal Drury Lane

Douglas Hodge to play Willy Wonka in Roald Dahl’s Charlie And The Chocolate Factory

Sam Mendes casts Douglas Hodge in new West End production of Charlie And The Chocolate Factory.

The actor Douglas Hodge is to take on his most high-profile stage project next year when he plays the iconic role of Willy Wonka in a major new stage musical of Roald Dahl’s Charlie And The Chocolate Factory.

The £10 million production will be directed by Sam Mendes, who is currently working on the next James Bond movie Skyfall, and will open at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in June 2013, following previews from 18 May.

Hodge follows a number of high-profile actors who have played the chocolate svengali including Gene Wilder and Johnny Depp, who played the role in movie adaptations of Dahl’s popular children’s book.

Douglas Hodge’s career spans the full breadth of acting, from stage drama and musicals to TV and film. His stage career includes a long association with the work of Harold Pinter, Olivier and Tony Awards for his role as female impersonator Albin in La Cage Aux Folles, directing a number of productions and writing a musical. On screen his roles have included Middlemarch for the BBC and Vanity Fair.

His next project, opening this month, is to play Cyrano de Bergerac for the Roundabout Theatre Company in New York directed by Jamie Lloyd.

Olivier Award winning choreographer Peter Darling, who won an award this year for his work on Matilda The Musical and choreographed the movie and stage versions of Billy Elliot, will choreograph the show, with set and costumes by acclaimed designer Mark Thompson (One Man, Two Guvnors, Mamma Mia!).

The show will be produced by Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Kevin McCormick and Neal Street Productions – the company owned by Caro Newling and Sam Mendes and who also produce that other big movie-to-musical show Shrek The Musical at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

The show will have a book by David Greig, with songs by Hairspray duo Marc Shaiman and Scott Whitmann.

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Book tickets to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane

More news on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

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Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory The Musical to open at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane

THIS SHOW IS NOW BOOKING – CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

A major new musical production of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will open in the West End in June 2013.

The show will starting playing at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, currently home to Shrek The Musical, on 18 May 2013.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane will be directed by Oscar winner Sam Mendes, who returns to theatre directing after his 2003 Broadway production of Gypsy. He is currently filming the next James Bond movie, Skyfall.

Olivier Award winning choreographer Peter Darling, who won an award this year for his work on Matilda The Musical and choreographed the movie and stage versions of Billy Elliot will choreograph the show, with set and costumes by acclaimed designer Mark Thompson (One Man, Two Guvnors, Mamma Mia!).

Preliminary casting is believed to be currently under way to find the  new stars of the show, to be produced by Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Kevin McCormick and Neal Street Productions – the company owned by Caro Newling and Sam Mendes and who also produce that other big movie-to-musical show Shrek The Musical at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

The show will have a book by David Greig, with songs by Hairspray duo Marc Shaiman and Scott Whitmann.

The show itself is based on the much-loved 1964 children’s book by British author Roald Dahl about a young boy called Charlie Bucket who wins the chance to step inside the chocolate factory of the eccentric Willy Wonka. The book was recently made into a successful 2005 film directed by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp.

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Book tickets to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane

SPECIAL OFFER: Book tickets to Shrek The Musical at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane

Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory The Musical to open at the London Palladium

A major new musical production of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will open in the West End in June 2013.

The show will play at the London Palladium, owned by Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group and currently home to his production of The Wizard of Oz.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the London Palladium will be directed by Oscar winner Sam Mendes, who returns to theatre directing after his 2003 Broadway production of Gypsy. He is currently filming the next James Bond movie, Skyfall.

Olivier Award winning choreographer Peter Darling, who won an award this year for his work on Matilda The Musical and choreographed the movie and stage versions of Billy Elliot will choreograph the show, with set and costumes by acclaimed designer Mark Thompson (One Man, Two Guvnors, Mamma Mia!).

Preliminary casting is believed to be currently under way to find the  new stars of the show, to be produced by Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Kevin McCormick and Neal Street Productions – the company owned by Caro Newling and Sam Mendes and who also produce that other big movie-to-musical show Shrek The Musical at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

The show will have a book by David Greig, with songs by Hairspray duo Marc Shaiman and Scott Whitmann.

The show itself is based on the much-loved 1964 children’s book by British author Roald Dahl about a young boy called Charlie Bucket who wins the chance to step inside the chocolate factory of the eccentric Willy Wonka. The book was recently made into a successful 2005 film directed by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp.

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Booking and venue details to be confirmed. Sign up to our news alerts service to hear about booking for this show.

 

Production photos of Matilda The Musical at the Cambridge Theatre in London

Production photos of Matilda The Musical at the Cambridge Theatre in London

The Royal Shakespeare Company’s acclaimed production of Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical is heading to London this Autumn.

The show transfers into the West End to play at the Cambridge Theatre in London from 18 October 2011.

The cast includes TMA Theatre Awards 2011 nominee Bertie Carvel as Miss Trunchbull, Paul Kaye as Mr Wormwood,  Josie Walker as Mrs Wormwood and Lauren Ward as Miss Honey, alongside Marc Antolin, Verity Bentham, Peter Howe, Michael Kent, Melanie La Barrie, Matthew Malthouse, Alastair Parker, Nick Searle and Emily Shaw.

Matilda The Musical played to sold-out audiences at the RSC’s The Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon and tells Roald Dahl’s magical story about a girl with extraordinary powers.

The show is written by Dennis Kelly, with music and lyrics by Australian comedian, musician and composer Tim Minchin, and direction by Matthew Warchus.

Photos from the original RSC production.

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Casting Announced For The Royal Shakespeare Company’s Production Of Matilda The Musical

• Casting announced for the Royal Shakespeare Company’s world premiere production of Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical

The Royal Shakespeare Company’s world premiere production of Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical will transfer to London’s Cambridge Theatre, previewing from Tuesday 18 October.

Bertie Carvel (Miss Trunchbull), Paul Kaye (Mr Wormwood) Josie Walker (Mrs Wormwood) and Lauren Ward (Miss Honey) will reprise their roles alongside Marc Antolin, Verity Bentham, Peter Howe, Michael Kent, Melanie La Barrie, Matthew Malthouse, Alastair Parker, Nick Searle and Emily Shaw who also appeared in the original production in Stratford.

Further adult casting includes: Matthew Clark, Leanne Pinder, Rachel Moran, Lucy Thatcher, Tim Walton and Gary Watson.

The four young actresses playing the role of Matilda will be announced on Dahl Day on Tuesday 13 September.

The three teams of eight young performers who will recreate the roles of Bruce, Lavender, Amanda, Nigel, Eric and the other pupils at Crunchem Hall Primary School are:

Thomas Atkinson, Jake Bailey, James Beesley, Ruby Bridle, Oonagh Cox, Jemima Eaton, Alicia Gould, Zachary Harris, Callum Henderson, Fleur Houdijk, Jamie Kaye, William Keeler, Lily Laight, Katie Lee, Isobelle Molloy, Jemima Morgan, Toby Murray, Alfie Manser, Lucy May Pollard, Annabel Parsons, Ellie Simons, Louis Suc, Jaydon Vijn and Ted Wilson.

Matilda The Musical played to sold-out audiences at the RSC’s The Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon for twelve weeks from November 2010 to January 2011. Roald Dahl’s magical story about a girl with extraordinary powers has been a favourite novel for millions of people across the world since it was published in 1988.

The new stage musical, which captured the imagination of young and old alike during its short run, is written by the highly acclaimed playwright Dennis Kelly, with music and lyrics by the anarchic Australian comedian, musician and composer Tim Minchin, and direction by Matthew Warchus.

The production is designed by Rob Howell, with choreography by Peter Darling, orchestrations, additional music and musical supervision by Christopher Nightingale, lighting by Hugh Vanstone, sound by Simon Baker and special effects and illusions are by Paul Kieve.

The entire creative team will reassemble to create the London production.

Matilda The Musical is produced in the West End by the Royal Shakespeare Company with André Ptaszynski as Executive Producer.

This production was developed with the support of Company Dramaturg Jeanie O’Hare and the RSC Literary Department.

For the initial booking period tickets are available for performances up to and including Sunday 12 February 2012.

Release issued by: The Corner Shop PR

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Matilda West End Transfer

The Royal Shakespeare Company world premiere production of Roald Dahl’s Matilda, A Musical will transfer to the West End in autumn 2011 for an open-ended run.

Tickets go on sale in May when performance dates, casting and venue will be announced.

The Royal Shakespeare Company’s world premiere production of Roald Dahl’s Matilda, A Musical will transfer to London’s West End in the autumn of 2011. Tickets go on sale in May when details of the performances dates, venue and casting will also be announced.

Matilda, A Musical played to sold-out audiences at the RSC’s Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon for twelve weeks from November 2010 to January 2011. Dahl’s magical story about a girl with extraordinary powers has been a favourite novel for millions of people across the world since it was published in 1988.

The new stage musical, which captured the imagination of young and old alike during its short run, is directed by Matthew Warchus; the script is by playwright Dennis Kelly, and the music and lyrics are by the anarchic Australian comedian, musician and composer Tim Minchin.

The production is designed by Rob Howell with choreography by Peter Darling, lighting by Hugh Vanstone, musical supervision and orchestration by Christopher Nightingale, sound by Simon Baker and special effects and illusions are by Paul Kieve.

No further announcements will be made until full production details are available.

Release issued by: RSC press office

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Willy Wonka to come to London

A lavish new stage production of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is to come to London, directed by Sam Mendes.

Slated for the end of 2011, the major new West End musical from the stage theatrical arm of Warner Bros, will see Mendes directing and his production company with Carol Newling, Neal Street Productions, producing the show. Warner Bros produced the 2005 Tim Burton movie. The recent success of Burton’s Alice in Wonderland is predicted to give a boost to further movie-to-stage children’s tales.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will follow Andrew Lloyd Webber’s spring opening of The Wizard of Oz, another children’s book made famous by film and making its way back to the West End stage. No theatre or casting has been announced for the Charlie project.

The musical will feature songs by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, the successful writing duo whose latest show, Catch Me If You Can, will premiere on Broadway in Spring 2011. They also wrote Hairspray The Musical. The book is by David Greig based on Roald Dahl’s original children’s story.

The first Act of the new musical was read in New York last week and it is believed that the show will also open on Broadway after its London premiere.

LINKS

Book tickets to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane