Really wonderful show with an excellent cast. Staging was stunning and the music and songs were performed beautifully. Real escapism and a lovely night all round. The Empire at it's best.

Saw the show on 23November. It is a great show with some excellent performances from the main characters. Charlie (played by a young lady) was just brilliant, acting and singing. Her stage presence showed a lot of maturity at that age and she is destined for a Stella career. Any review less than good/exceptional must come from people who will never be happy at any musical. This show is a must for families with young children but is equally a joy for a more mature audience

One of best shows ever!! Brilliant just brilliant. Charlie was a girl and yhat was GREAT.

What is the plot of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is where Charlie and his family live in poverty but it is his dreams that keeps him going. He loves inventing things from nothing. His kind heart and his love for Chocolate yet it is no surprise that Willy Wonka becomes an idol to him. Charlie lives with his mum and his four grandparents. Yes they live in cramped conditions but what brings them together is love. Despite that he cannot wait for his birthday so that he can get his Wonka bar. This dream becomes stronger when he hears an announcement that Willy Wonka is to open up his factory to 5 lucky winners who find golden tickets in their Wonka bars. Just as he thinks that all hope has vanished he finds out that he has the 5th and final Chocolate bar with the golden ticket. As a result he is so happy and enters the factory with the other winners. He enters into a factory that is like no other with full of imagination. Wonka also promises a prize to the winner to which Charlie then realises that as he is the only child that remains then maybe his dreams will be become true once and for all. What are the themes that are explored in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? The themes that are explored in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory are poverty, family, friendship, dreams, Chocolate, love, luck, greed, imagination and fate. Cast Haydn Court was brilliant as Charlie Bucket. The innocent but yet strong child who is resilient at making the impossible a possibility. His stage presence was warm and full of charisma. His vocals were flawless and were crystal clear. He had bags of talent and is one to watch out for. Michael D’Cruze was heart-warming and relatable to many as Grandpa Joe. His performance was full of energy and he also provided a protective figure which strengthened his relationship with Charlie. It was exuberant to watch. His chemistry with Charlie (Haydn Court) was infectious and they were a great partnership on stage. The other children that were also winners to the Chocolate factory were sensational in their own right. Robin Simoes Da Silva as Augustus Gloop whose comedic timing was second to none. His performance was quirky filled with sausages and a pig’s head. Marisha Morgan was incredible as Violet Beauregarde. Her performance was vibrant in a pop inspired song where she plays basketball. Kazmin Borrer was a standout as Veruca Salt. The way that she combined ballet with her arrogant behaviour was out of this world. Teddy Hinde was hilarious as Mike Teavee. His performance of a hip hop style song that featured toy guns was spectacular. The cast members that performed dual roles who were Christopher Howell as Grandpa George and Mr Salt, Kate Milner Jones as Grandma Josephine and Mrs Gloop, Emily Winter as Grandma Georgina and Mrs B, and finally Leonie Spilsbury as Mrs Bucket and Mrs Teavee. They were all phenomenal with a likeable stage presence. Their team spirit was spot on and each one did their roles in a way that was natural and effortless. It was a credit to watch such a talented bunch of people regardless of how small or big their roles were. Gareth Snook as Mr Willy Wonka was crazy bonkers with a unique and distinct personality. He owned the stage. He was funny, charming, serious, and entertaining. He was a joy to watch. The Oompa Loompas were from a different planet. They were tin man style from Doctor Who but they still provided great entertainment despite their modern depiction. Sets and Props The sets were simple, elegant, effective and were immersive. Simon Higlett’s set designs were sensational. In Act 1 the sets were mostly of a gloomy vibe as it set the tone for the poor and cramped environment in which Charlie and his family lived in. This included the metal scrape piles and the simple house. In Act 2 we are transported to Wonka’s Chocolate factory. It was brought to life using screen projectors and also with a creative selection of props consisting of big cages with squirrels and the flying glass elevator that flew Willy Wonka and Charlie. It was magical. Special effects and Humour This production is full of energy and vitality particularly in combining high quality special effects with nuggets of comedy gold. One of the memorable moments in which you could not stop laughing was where Violet was turned into a blueberry. Another great moment was where a human Mike Teavee is transported through the air and into a TV screen. Soundtrack and Choreography The soundtrack of this production fitted perfectly to the story adding new songs that consisted of many genres including pop, hip hop, ballet and more but also combining them with 2 classics from the original film. The new songs were not memorable as with big musicals but they still added a fun and joyful vibe. In addition the music was brought to life by an amazing live band with great orchestration. Highlights from the soundtrack included Candy Man, Pure Imagination and The View From Here. The choreography and dance moves were exquisite to watch. They were clean, slick and were precise to the eye. If you love Roald Dahl’s books brought to the stage with magic, humour and energetic songs then Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is the show for you. Grab your golden tickets now.

We have have just seen the show this evening. To echo others’ comments the first half was slow setting the scene and the sound wasn’t great as was towards the back of the stage. The second half was much better- the show came alive and the staging and effects were brilliant and brought it to life. The cast were great- especially Charlie. Such talent at such a young age. If you can get reasonably priced tickets it’s worth a watch.

The overall performance was good but in the first part of the show the production was towards the back of the stage which made it difficult to hear. The second part was better as the performance was further forward towards the front of the stage.