Jonathan Slinger – Gene Wilder gave my Wonka so many dimensions

2016 has been one of the worst years in my memory for the loss of heroes. From Prince to Bowie, Alan Rickman to Victoria Wood, we seem to be losing so many stars and none greater than Gene Wilder, who passed away at the start of this week, aged 83.

The announcement of Gene's death broke as we were on stage on Monday evening; it was a surreal night as the news seeped through the company and the audience at Theatre Royal Drury Lane. The last few performances have been incredibly poignant for everyone working on the show and particularly for me as I donned my hat and cane to become Willy Wonka.

There have only been a handful of actors to take on this iconic role, Gene Wilder, of course, followed by Johnny Depp, Douglas Hodge, Alex Jennings and now myself. When I learnt that I would be taking on the role of Willy Wonka in Sam Mendes' West End production, I went back to Roald Dahl's original text for inspiration. This process made me realise that so much of my memory and impression of Wonka came from Gene Wilder's interpretation; his characteristics had become inextricable from Dahl's ingenious inventor in my mind.

He brought a combination of humour alongside a whole sinister, deeply melancholic side.

What I've been reminded of, over these last few days, is the personal debt that I owe Gene Wilder, for creating a 3D, multi-faceted emulation of Dahl's character. For me, he brought a combination of humour alongside a whole sinister, deeply melancholic side and managed to give so many dimensions to the role. He brought all of that together with fluidity, adding this propensity towards anger at the end, Wonka suddenly becomes enraged and scary. It's a snap change that gives such richness to the character, Wilder managed to do all of this whilst remaining constantly engaging, warm and funny.

The more I explored it myself, this sense of melancholy and the sinister tones are all about Wonka saying goodbye to his factory and his life's work. He is too old and too tired, the time has come to pass his legacy on, a tough idea to come to terms with. There's something beautiful about this genius going around his building for the last time, whilst secretly picking a successor, and saying a last goodbye to all that he has created. An ever more poignant idea now as we say goodbye and thank you to one of the greats.

Jonathan Slinger currently plays Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Theatre Royal Drury Lane.