Everything you need to know about 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' in the West End

The scrumptious musical adaptation of the Roald Dahl classic comes to the London Coliseum in summer 2027, starring Michael Ball as Willy Wonka.

Summary

• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory plays at the London Coliseum from 4 June to 18 September 2027
• Michael Ball stars as chocolatier Willy Wonka
• Nikolai Foster directs a new production
• The show features a score by Hairspray writers Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman and is based on the book by Roald Dahl

Scrumdiddlyumptious news! The popular musical version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is returning to the West End in summer 2027 in a new production by Nikolai Foster starring West End legend Michael Ball as eccentric chocolatier Willy Wonka.

Step into a world of pure imagination as Willy Wonka’s enchanted chocolate factory opens to the public at the London Coliseum for a strictly limited and utterly delicious 12-week period. The magical adventure is accompanied by a score by Hairspray’s Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, as well as a couple of numbers from the classic 1971 movie musical.

Don’t miss the chance to join Charlie, Wonka, Grandpa Joe, and the Oompa-Loompas in this strange and wonderful world of chocolate making and entrepreneurship – with a few life lessons to learn along the way. You won’t be able to resist the chance to get your golden tickets!

Check back for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk.

What is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory about?

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is the story of the Bucket family, comprising the widowed Mrs Bucket, her bedridden parents and parents-in-law – Grandpa Joe, Grandma Josephine, Grandpa George, and Grandma Georgina – and her young son, Charlie. Despite the family’s poverty with no disposable income for sweets, Charlie is fascinated by the local chocolate factory, run by the reclusive Willy Wonka. When Wonka releases five golden tickets in which five children will win the chance to a once-in-a-lifetime behind-the-scenes tour, Charlie, against all the odds, has the opportunity to enter this magical and dangerous world...

Who wrote Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is based on the 1964 children’s book by Roald Dahl. It remains one of Dahl’s most popular works, of an oeuvre that also includes James and the Giant Peach, The BFG, Fantastic Mr Fox, The Witches, and Matilda.

The musical adaptation features music and lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (Hairspray, Smash), while retaining some of the songs by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse from the 1971 movie musical Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. The book is by David Greig (One Day).

Is there a movie version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was first adapted for the screen as a movie musical in 1971 titled Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, starring Gene Wilder as Wonka. Tim Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, led by Johnny Depp, was released in 2005.

When did Charlie and the Chocolate Factory premiere?

The musical version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was first performed in May 2013 at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, directed by Sam Mendes. Douglas Hodge and Nigel Planer led the cast as Willy Wonka and Grandpa Joe. The production played until 7 January 2017. The show received its regional premiere in Leeds in 2022, followed by a UK tour.

The Broadway production premiered in March 2017 in a new production directed by Jack O’Brien, starring Christian Borle as Wonka. The show played for 308 performances and has had two US tours.

Where is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory playing?

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is playing at the London Coliseum, located on St Martin’s Lane. The Coliseum is one of London’s most beautiful and ornate venues, designed by the renowned Edwardian theatre architect Frank Matcham. With 2,389 seats, it is also the largest venue in the West End. It is the London home of English National Opera and English National Ballet, and the venue frequently hosts musicals, including Kinky Boots earlier this year. Prior to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Legally Blonde will play in spring 2027.

When is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory playing?

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is playing from 4 June to 18 September 2027. Keep an eye on our Charlie and the Chocolate Factory page for information about performance days and timings.

How long is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory runs at approximately 2 hours 30 minutes.

What awards has Charlie and the Chocolate Factory won?

In 2014, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was nominated for seven Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical. It won two: Best Costume Design and Best Lighting Design.

Who is in the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory cast?

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is led by Michael Ball as Willy Wonka. One of the West End’s most popular and recognisable figures, Ball rose to fame when he originated the role of Marius in Les Misérables, and his other major credits include Alex in Aspects of Love (in which he introduced his signature song “Love Changes Everything”), Giorgio in Passion, and Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. He is a two-time Olivier Award winner for Hairspray and Sweeney Todd. He was most recently seen on stage as Sir George Dillingham in the West End revival of Aspects of Love and as Javert in Les Misérables: The Arena Spectacular World Tour.

Further casting is to be announced.

Who is in the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory creative team?

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is directed by Nikolai Foster, artistic director of Leicester Curve. Foster’s other productions that have played in the West End include The Wizard of Oz, A Chorus Line, and Kinky Boots. The production will premiere at the Leicester Curve over Christmas 2026, led by Jonny Fines as Willy Wonka.

The creative team also includes choreography by Ebony Molina, set design by Leslie Travers, costume design by Katrina Lindsey, lighting design by Ben Cracknell, sound design by Adam Fisher, video design by George Reeve, wigs, hair and make-up design by Campbell Young Associates, illusion design by Chris Fisher, puppet design by Rachael Canning, musical supervision by Stephen Brooker, orchestration adaptations by George Dyer, and musical direction by Isaac McCullough.

Who are the characters in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory includes the following loveable and hilariously horrible characters:

Charlie Bucket: a good-hearted young boy from a poor family who is fascinated by chocolate and sweets. Willy Wonka: the mysterious and wickedly inventive owner of the greatest chocolate factory in the world. Grandpa Joe: Charlie’s bedbound grandfather and his biggest supporter.
Mrs Bucket: Charlie’s loving widowed mother. Grandma Josephine, Grandpa George, and Grandma Georgina: Charlie’s other bedbound grandparents. Augustus Gloop: a greedy Bavarian boy. Veruca Salt: a spoiled British girl. Violet Beauregarde: a gum-chewing aspiring internet celebrity. Mike Teavee: an aggressive TV and video game addict.
Mrs Gloop, Mr Salt, Mr Beauregarde, Mrs Teavee: their pushy and revoltingly indulgent parents. Oompa-Loompas: a chorus of factory workers.

What songs are in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?

The score for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has been revised several times since its premiere. The songs “Pure Imagination” and “The Candy Man” were written by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse for the film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (the Broadway production also featured the “Oompa-Loompa Song”); the rest of the songs, by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, are original to the show. The following song list featured in the most recent UK tour:

__Act I __

"Almost Nearly Perfect" - Charlie Bucket
"Charlie, You and I" - Grandpa Joe
"The Amazing Fantastical History of Mr. Willy Wonka" - Grandparents and Charlie Bucket
"A Letter from Charlie Bucket" - Charlie Bucket, Mrs. Bucket, and Grandparents
"More of Him to Love" - Mrs. Gloop, Augustus Gloop, and Mr. Gloop
"When Veruca Says" - Mr. Salt and Veruca Salt
"The Queen of Pop" - Mrs. Beauregarde, Violet Beauregarde, and Ensemble
"Charlie, You and I" (Reprise) - Grandpa Joe
"The Teavee Family" - Mrs. Teavee, Mike Teavee, and Ensemble
"The Candy Man" - Mrs. Bucket
"Almost Nearly Perfect" (Reprise) - Charlie Bucket
"Don'cha Pinch Me, Charlie" - Charlie Bucket, Grandpa Joe, Grandparents, Mrs. Bucket, and Ensemble
"You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" / "It Must Be Believed to Be Seen" - Willy Wonka and Ensemble

Act II

"Strike That! Reverse It!" - Willy Wonka and Company
"Pure Imagination" - Willy Wonka, Charlie Bucket, Grandpa Joe, and the Golden Ticket Winners
"Auf Wiedersehen Augustus Gloop" - Willy Wonka and the Oompa Loompas
"You Got Whacha Want" ††† - Oompa-Loompas and Willy Wonka
"Veruca's Nutcracker Sweet" - Oompa-Loompas
"Vidiots" - Oompa-Loompas, Willy Wonka and Mrs. Teavee
"A Letter from Charlie Bucket" (Reprise) - Charlie Bucket
"The View From Here" - Willy Wonka and Charlie
"The Candy Man" (Reprise) - Willy Wonka, Charlie Bucket, Mrs. Bucket, and Grandparents
"Almost Nearly Perfect" (Reprise) - Willy Wonka

Fun facts about Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

• At boarding school in the 1930s – which he otherwise detested – Roald Dahl and his classmates would be sent test packages of new varieties from Cadbury’s for their feedback. A dream job at any age!
• The chocolate espionage between Wonka and his rivals Fickelgruber, Prodnose, and Slugworth is based on the real-life rivalry between Cadbury’s and Rowntree, which escalated into full-on chocolate wars!
• Surviving drafts show that Dahl originally envisioned at least ten Golden Ticket winners, before trimming the cast down to a more manageable five.
• Dahl published the sequel Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator in 1972 and he wrote one chapter of a third instalment, provisionally titled Charlie in the White House.
• One of the original children to play Violet Beauregard in the West End production was India Ria Amarteifio, who went on the play the title role in Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.

Check back for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk.

Photo credit: Michael Ball. (Photo by Matt Crockett)