Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the Musical breaks records in final weeks

The hit musical celebrates a record-breaking final weeks

The West End production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the Musical has broken records in its final weeks at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. The final Christmas week in the West End broke all records for ticket sales at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, delighting more audience members than ever before.

The production, which opened officially on 22 May 2013, will play its final performance at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 7 January 2017, concluding an impressive run of over three and a half years.

Based on Roald Dahl's classic story, the musical has a book by David Greig and original score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. The West End production is directed by Sam Mendes with choreography by Peter Darling, design by Mark Thompson, lighting by Paul Pyant, sound design by Paul Arditti and costume by Mark Thompson. It is produced in London by Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Neal Street Productions and Kevin McCormick.

The closing cast of the West End production includes Jonathan Slinger (Willy Wonka), Barry James (Grandpa Joe), Ross Dawes (Mr Salt), Josefina Gabrielle (Mrs Teavee), Jasna Ivir (Mrs Gloop), Paul J Medford (Mr Beauregarde), Lara Denning (Mrs Bucket), Derek Hagen, Roni Page (Grandma Josephine), Myra Sands (Grandma Georgina), Kraig Thornber (Grandpa George) and Chris Grahamson (Mr Bucket).

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the Musical will transfer to Broadway, beginning performances at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre from 28 March 2017. Directed by three-time Tony winner Jack O'Brien and choreographed by Tony nominee & Emmy winner Joshua Bergasse, the musical has been developed for Broadway and will now feature an expanded score by Shaiman and Wittman. Rather than use children in the roles of the Golden Ticket winners, the Broadway production will use adults in the role, with the exception of Charlie Bucket.

Two-time Tony winner Christian Borle will star as Willy Wonka alongside Jake Ryan Flynn, Ryan Foust and Ryan Sell (alternating as Charlie Bucket), Tony winner John Rubinstein (Grandpa Joe), Emily Padgett (Mrs. Bucket), Kathy Fitzgerald (Mrs. Gloop), F. Michael Haynie (Augustus Gloop), Ben Crawford (Mr. Salt), Emma Pfaeffle (Veruca Salt), Alan H. Green (Mr. Beauregard), Trista Dollison (Violet Beauregard), Jackie Hoffman (Mrs. Teavee) and Michael Wartella (Mike Teavee).

Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - The Musical received 7 Olivier Award nominations in 2014, including Best New Musical, picking up the awards for Best Costume Design and Best Lighting Design. The original cast starred Tony and Olivier winner Douglas Hodge in the iconic role of Willy Wonka.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - The Musical runs in London until 7 January 2017.