AN INNOVATION in theatre

Written by David Greig with music and lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, the production features Douglas Hodge, Nigel Planer and Roni Page amongst its mammoth cast, and took £10 million, fifty drafts and five years to finally make it to the stage.

It’s likely that most readers will be more familiar with the filmic adaptations of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory than the 1964 children’s book which, illustrated by Quentin Blake, tells the story of Charlie Bucket, a young boy from a poverty stricken family who finds himself the lucky winner of one of chocolate factory owner, Willy Wonka’s, Golden Tickets, enabling him to visit the weird and wonderful factory for just one day. What ensues is utter madness, brilliantly captured in Mendes’s production through incredible sets, high-tech mechanical props and projections.

“We’re in a world of our own when we’re on stage

Roni Page, who plays Grandma Josephine, explains that it was these intricate technical additions (not least, getting the infamous glass elevator to fly) that meant that rehearsals lasted for four months – add this to the eighteen month run, and it makes for quite the commitment. Having trained at the Royal Ballet School and still harbouring a strong soprano voice, Page has “always played glamorous parts”, yet for Mendes’ production she plays an older woman – noting that “there was a deliberation as to whether I could do it, but through six auditions I persuaded them that I could” – and is confined to an animatronic bed for the most part.

“It’s marvellous playing old! It totally frees you to express your role when you don’t have to worry about your appearance, so I’m very much enjoying that aspect of it.”

Although Page has appeared in countless West End shows as well as on-screen, nothing has quite compared to Charlie which she notes is “the biggest musical to ever be put on in the West End.” As a brand new production, it provides a different experience for the entire company, Page explaining that “to create a musical from scratch is a really rewarding experience. It’s become a collaboration as Sam has allowed us to develop our own characters – I feel quite protective of Grandma Josephine now.”

Page and the adult cast are also protective of the various Charlies, Augustuses, Mikes, Violets and Verucas of the show, commenting that “they’re only nine or ten years old and they’re carrying the show, so we do try to calm and nourish them – it’s important to instil confidence in them.” Although putting on eight shows per week between them, the child cast remain a whirlwind of young enthusiasm and infectious energy. Add this to a fleet of hilariously fashioned Oompa Loompas, a sharp and witty script – dryly executed by Hodge – and a long list of double-entendres, and the result is a musical fit to send both children and adults singing and dancing their way down Drury Lane.

“We’re in a world of our own when we’re on stage, always” Page muses, and with its unbelievably intricate set, high-tech cinematic projections, and an outstanding cast, Mendes’ larger-than-life production is immersive, ever-memorable and packed with pure, joyful imagination.

Roni Page will be performing her ‘one woman show’ later on in 2014, visit www.therivermagazine.co.uk to stay posted.

Theatre Royal
Drury Lane
Catherine Street
WC2B 5JF
w: www.charlieandthechocolatefactory.com
t: 0844 412 4660 / 0844 858 8877 BOOKING LINE

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