Charlie and the Chocolate Factory extends West End run
by Oliver Mitford on Wednesday 4 February 2015, 2:28 pm in West End News & Gossip
Sam Mendes’s gigantic musical version of Roald Dahl’s treasured classic, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, has confirmed that the production will extend its run at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane through to 4 June 2016.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has also done the unthinkable and for a third time, broken the record for the highest weekly gross sales in the Theatre Royal Drury Lane’s history. The show took just over £1 million in the final week of Christmas last year.
Directed by Oscar-winning film director Sam Mendes, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory celebrated its 700th performance in the West End on 24 January 2015, and it looks like the show will at least double that number in its current home.
With music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Scott Wittman (and Marc Shaiman), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is adapted for the stage by award-winning playwright David Greig. The show is designed by Olivier Award-winner Mark Thompson and choreographed by Peter Darling.
Olivier Award-winning actor Alex Jennings plays the mysterious owner of the famous chocolate factory, Willy Wonka, in the dark tale of young Charlie Bucket and his adventures in the weird and wonderful Wonka Chocolate Factory.
The production features spellbinding set designs and unbelievable costumes that all come together to bring the treasured story to life on stage at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is now booking until 9 February 2015, but is currently scheduled to run to 4 June 2016.