Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Leeds Playhouse / Tour

This afternoon's performance also cancelled, due to the heat!

Yesterday evening's performance did go ahead and I saw this from the end of the front row. The theatre was still rather warm. It was an awkward seat, no issues with the view, but there's an extended orchestra pit and railing which restricts one leg, but not the other. Plus, a massive crowd of people trying to look at the orchestra during the interval with no conception of personal space (I did stand aside). In fairness, there were plenty of seats I could have moved to (at least people who missed shows may be able to get tickets), but I liked the view.

This is a rather curious show. The original book was one of my favourites as a child. I didn't really take to the West End version of this. I know this was heavily reworked for Broadway, then heavily reworked again for the UK tour. Now, there's a very strange mismatch of new and old ideas, plus songs from the film and the previous stage production, but also with so many things seeming like they're just in the wrong place.

The first half drags a bit, but this comes alive in the second half (in the chocolate factory). The set is a bit limited, but there's clever use of projections and some nice props. I was worried Christopher Howell wouldn't have much to do, but like many of the cast he double up on roles, and as he's a nut factory owner, they've managed to work in enough gags to keep the adults happy. The boy who played Charlie was very good also. I also have no problem with the adults playing children, I barely noticed, or the way the Oompa Loompas have been restyled in a Cyberman inspired manner.

I've no desire to see this again for a few years, but happy I made the effort.

Has Simply Second Nature been cut from the tour?

They did have Julie Mullins, who was known to Neighbours fans like myself (hence the reason I got a ticket for Sunderland Empire), but they seem to have replaced her with Emily Winter.

Was the director feeling her role in a soap opera like Neighbours damaged the credibility of the show? Bit of snobbery there.


With Mullins gone, it's removed probably the only recognisable name in the cast.


Marisha Morgan and Leonie Spilsbury probably have a following with Top Boy and Heartstopper, but those shows don't have the following Neighbours has, not to mention the fact a Neighbours star was in it (given the publicity around the soap) may have got the likes of Gareth Snook on BBC Breakfast rather than Blue Peter.

Just got out of seeing it tonight at the Mayflower in Southampton. I had seen some video of the West End and Broadway versions, and I have listened to the cast albums a lot so I already knew I would probably enjoy the show going in - and I had a really nice time.

The first act does drag if you don’t know Wonka doesn’t appear until the final song, and I did see some people leaving at the interval which is a shame because Act 2 definitely picks up. I loved the sets, especially after seeing photos and video of the bizarre choice made on Broadway to have minimalist sets.
I do like some of the changes they kept from Broadway, although after the brutality of Veruca’s comeuppance on Broadway this version felt very tame!

We had a girl playing Charlie, and she was very talented (even showing up some of the adult cast in terms of singing), and along with Gareth as Wonka they really carried a lot of the show.

My criticisms:
- Major issues with sound/annunciation. You often couldn’t understand what the cast were saying during songs, the only reason I kept up was because I already knew them from listening to the cast album. I don’t know if that’s an issue with the diction of the cast or a sound mixing thing though.
- The complete lack of staging for the song addressing Wonka’s backstory. It was just the grandparents singing in their bed, with zero staging around it so I found my attention drifting a bit. You don’t need to show Wonka until the final song, but maybe have some of the ensemble do some dancing or miming to help the narration.
- The change to Believed To Be Seen. I love the original version, it felt so grand and a great reveal of Wonka and his factory. This version felt… idk, just Less Good. The floating hat magic effect was fun, but I missed the fake-old-man-act.
- The lack of I’ve Got A Golden Ticket. I don’t think that song has ever been in the show (maybe a rights issue?) but you could feel the audience disappointment that there was a different song instead.

Overall I had a fun evening, it was nice to see the show live - I just hope that they fix whatever sound issue made them hard to understand.

I remember seeing this in the West End. What a curious beast this was.

We didn't even get to see inside the factory till the beginning of the second act. And when they went into the Chocolate Room it was like 'is that it?' I don't even remember Augustus Gloop being sucked up from the chocolate river up the pipe.

The only thing I remember about the Ommpa Loompa's was when they were dressed as squirrels as Verruca Salt fell down the bad nut shoot.

I have a vague memory of the little black girl playing Violet's costume puffing up with air and being rolled off stage.

Overall, disappointing.

Agree. I thought the signing was a load of inconsistent nonsense and a distraction.

So, I live in Bristol. Seen this show advertised on the side of buses, on bus stops, taking up the largest banner at the theatre. I went to see what seats were available 3 hours before the performance last night.

I’m guessing this tour is gonna prove a big loss.