Theatre News

Charlie & the Chocolate Factory reschedules two previews due to ‘unforeseen problems’

Theo Bosanquet
London's West End
The producers of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory have “reluctantly” rescheduled the first two previews of the new Roald Dahl musical at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

According to press material, “unforeseen problems in the delivery of a
piece of stage engineering by a contractor” are causing “delays to the
schedule”.

Performances on 17 and 18 May will be replaced by an additional preview on 22 May at 7.30pm and another extra performance to be scheduled “during a forthcoming holiday period”.

Ticket-holders who had booked for the previews are being contacted to rearrange their tickets.

Ryan Petersen, spokesman for the production, said: “The whole production team is frustrated by this unforeseen delay in what has otherwise been a very smooth and exciting rehearsal period. We’re sorry to inconvenience people who have booked for these first previews but are putting on an extra performance next Wednesday evening which will become our first public preview.”

Helmed by Sam Mendes, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory stars Olivier and Tony Award-winning actor Douglas Hodge as Willy Wonka (pictured below in rehearsals).
Hodge is joined in the cast by Nigel Planer as Grandpa Joe, alongside Clive Carter (Mr Salt), Jasna Ivir
(Mrs Gloop), Paul J Medford (Mr Beauregarde), Iris Roberts (Mrs
Teavee) and Myra Sands (Grandma Georgina).Also in the cast are Joe Allen, David
Birch, Michelle Bishop, Mireia Mambo Bokele, Matthew Clark, Alex
Clatworthy, Jennifer Davison, Luke Fetherston, Damien Poole and Jack
Shalloo. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory centres on mysterious sweet-maker Wonka, who is opening his Chocolate Factory for
just one day, and the humble boy Charlie Bucket for whom it promises to
be a mouth-watering chance to feast his eyes on sweets beyond his
wildest imagination. The musical has a book by David Greig and new songs from Marc
Shaiman and Scott Wittman, whose credits include the Tony
Award-winning Hairspray.
Set and costume design is by Mark Thompson with choreography by Peter Darling (Matilda, Billy Elliot).
Other members of the creative team include: Doug Besterman
(orchestrations); Nicholas Skilbeck (music director); Paul Pyant
(lighting designer); Paul Arditti (sound designer) and Jon Driscoll
(video and projection designer). Press night is scheduled for the 25 June 2013.