Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Dark Chocolate

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, book by David Greig after Roald Dahl

BROS Theatre Company at Richmond Theatre until 21^st February

Review by Heather Moulson

After a vibrant opening with the classic song Candy Man, sung by Nick Moorhead as the iconic confectioner Willy Wonka and backed by an impressive chorus, we concentrate on Charlie Bucket. This ambitious and colourful musical featured (for this particular performance) Anthony Eckley-Majercak as Charlie.

Charlie lives in extreme poverty with his overworked mother and elderly grandparents. The young boy has longed for a golden ticket to get to Willy Wonka’s fabled factory. Tash Willis’ clear singing voice, playing Mrs Bucket, makes the sadness of their situation all the more poignant. The hardy, witty, long-suffering stoical oldies, Grandpa Joe (Nigel Cole) and Grandma Georgina (Deb McDowell), and Grandpa George (Steve Taylor) and Grandma Josephine (Faye Brann) provide the encouraging background to Charlie’s life. A humorous touch by the dubious fruit seller Mrs Green is nicely paced in by the likeable Clair Jardella, who shows a business-like affection for Charlie.

Well designed backdrops pull us into the eclectic world of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and move the story along, as do very clever costume designs managed by Mags Wrightson and her team. A nice touch is that even though iPhones are present, the show still manages to keep its seventies style. Studied lighting by Ed Pagett, and effective sound by Dan Tigg and DTMS, enhance the action.

We vicariously follow Charlie’s ambition and once his acquiring of this hallowed ticket took place, are delighted it is his Grandpa Joe is to accompany him, Joe having found a new lease of life. The pair of actors convincing display their characters’ strong familial bond. Charlie appears in nearly every scene, and Eckley-Majercak stays consistent in this very demanding role, mature without losing his childish charm or good nature.

Spectacular TV scenes with Cherry and Jerry reveal the other lucky (or not so?) winners, a delightful array. We meet the purple suited Christopher Bryan as ambitious Mr Beauregarde and his gum-chewing singing daughter Violet, by a spirited Rebecca Nardin. Then, Mrs Gloop and her son Augustus, are hilariously played by Louse Ellard-Turnbull and Mathew Madeley. Affluent oligarch Mr Salt, is played lavishly by Chris Warden and his insufferable offspring Veruca by Anna Gold, who has an incredible voice and ballet skills. A personal favourite pair are the very American Mrs Teavee and her obnoxious son Mike, beautifully done by Emma Playle and Jay Shore. News anchors Cherry by Caro Hayes and Jerry by Callum Taylor are captivating.

Willy Wonka, enigmatic and resplendent in his shiny coat and top hat, goes from hapless to heartless and back to likeable as he takes us through his intriguing and detailed factory, losing the other winners one by one. Consistent with his eccentricity and humour, Wonka has a highly engaging team of ‘factory workers’ including the Oompa Loompas and squirrels that really bring the scenes to life.

The last scene, set in the stars with Willie and Charlie, is as magnetic as the first scene. Musical numbers are smoothly executed by Tom Chippendale and his band, and the direction by Paul Madeley is clever and intricate.

A great energetic ensemble consists of Meaghan Baxter, Joe Black, Kelsey Glynn, Connor Harper, Lucy Hennessy, Roxane Ip, Natalie Lawson, Jasmine Lord-D’Souza, Gemma Melhuish, Rebecca Thomas and Kate Wilson. This chorus also does great justice to Sian Bowles-Bevan’s choreography, particularly with the striking and cleverly managed Oompa Loompas.

This Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is an uplifting and polished adaption of Roald Dahl’s eccentric tale.

Heather Moulson, February 2026

Photography courtesy of BROS