New cast announced for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

New cast members have been announced for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, joining the previously announced Jonathan Slinger as Willy Wonka.

From 4 May 2015, new actors will include Kraig Thornber (Grandpa George), Lara Denning (Mrs Bucket) and Mark Oxtoby (Jerry), among others.

Original cast members of Sam Mendes's production Ross Dawes and Derek Hagen will take over the roles of Mr Salt and Mr Bucket respectively.

Myra Sands, Roni Page, Jasna Ivir, Ross Dawes, Paul J. Medford, Derek Hagen, Kate Graham and Joe Allen, who all started with the show when in opened in 2013, will continue in their roles.

Almost two thirds of the current company will remain the same, with the full cast heading into the show's third year also including: Barry James, Josefina Gabrielle, Meg Astin, Joel Baylis, Andy Brady, Simon Campbell, Georgia Carling, Andrew Carthy, Collette Coleman, Dan Cooke, Divine Cresswell, Billy Cullum, Connor Dowling, Kelly Edwards, Gemma Fuller, Sam Lathwood, Lucinda Lawrence, Matthew Rowland, Rebecca Seale, Steven Serlin, Gregory Sims, Robert Tregoning, Tara Verloop, Michelle White and Mark Williamson.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory features music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman, a book by David Greig, set and costume designs by Mark Thompson and choreography by Peter Darling. The original London cast recording
featuring Douglas Hodge as Willy Wonka is available to buy.

It is currently booking at Theatre Royal Drury Lane to 4 June 2016.