Charlie And The Chocolate Factory

Charlie & The Chocolate Factory is a musical which looks to present spectacle on a great scale - a sense of the surreal, a sense of wonder and, for want of a better word, magic - but also deep emotions.

Alan Gibson’s musical direction, Hannah Woolley’s direction, and Mahri Smith’s choreography combined brought the vision and sound to life. The show opened with "The Candy Man," featuring a very confident Willy Wonka, with the ensemble consistently delivering wonderful acting and dancing throughout. Both principals and ensemble brought high energy to every aspect of the performance. 

The Bucket family delivered a strong performance, with each member enhancing the group dynamic. Grandma Josephine (Cami), Grandma Georgina (Matilda), and Grandpa George (Emma) formed a memorable trio. Holly excelled as Mrs Bucket, especially in her emotive rendition of "If Your Father Were Here," which stood out as a memorable highlight. The close bond between Mrs Bucket and Charlie was clearly portrayed, as were Charlie’s interactions with Grandpa Joe (Abbie) and Willy Wonka (Ewan).

Hollie's performance as Charlie was remarkable for her confidence and maturity which has developed over the last couple of years. Despite the demanding role, she delivered both acting and singing—such as "Willy Wonka! Willy Wonka!" and "A Letter from Charlie Bucket"—with impressive skill for her age.

Willy Wonka delivered a standout performance, skilfully capturing the character's emotions, motivations, and unique energy. Early in the show, Ewan effectively balanced confidence with nervousness as Wonka prepared to leave the Factory. The demanding role was handled with strong stage presence and impressive acting, singing, and dancing abilities.

The famous Willy Wonka Golden Ticket event goes international and is featured on a dedicated TV channel with charismatic hosts, Jerry Jubilee and Cherry Sundae. The winners include Augustus Gloop, (Noah) accompanied by his mother, Mrs. Gloop (Hannah); Veruca Salt (Caitlin), with her devoted father, Mr. Salt (Fang); Violet Beauregarde (Liv), joined by her father, Mr. Beauregarde (Brodie); and Mike Teavee, (Darice), along with his mother, Mrs. Teavee (Bethan).

This production was clearly very much a team effort and crucial to the overall balance of the show. Congratulations on a wonderful show and I look forward to seeing you all for your next production.

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