SPOILER ALERT

On Thursday 7th September, me and my best friend Robyn went to see ‘Charlie and the chocolate factory’, at Hull New Theatre

Before the show started, we were moved to actually better stalls seats, because a massive group of school children all desired to sit together. We sat in our new stall D seats with our snacks and drinks, highly anticipating the performance

This stage version actually started it’s journey at Leeds playhouse, a reinvention of the Broadway/West end productions. We were delighted with memorable songs, such as ‘The Candy Man’ and ‘Pure Imagination’ from the original 1970s Gene Wilder film

Roald Dahl is indisputably a genius of Children’s fiction. A young, impovished boy living with his poverty stricken family, his dreams and hopes. 5 golden tickets, the opportunity of a lifetime – to go where no child has before, inside the magical world of Willy Wonka and his fantastical chocolate factory

The set was spectacular, amazing aesthetics, video design and brilliant costumes

I particularly enjoyed Augustus Gloop getting stuck in the tubular pipe, having scoffed his face with liquid chocolate from the forbidden fountain, just like in the film… or, Violet Beauregarde’s dress expanding until she practically becomes an enormous blueberry! A huge blue/purple ball then rolling on the stage, with a fake scarecrow like head, that was very comical! Also, Willy Wonka and Charlie ascending the glass elevator, that was cool

A shock, and how I felt the production deviated the most from expectation were the oompah-loompas. I was expecting little dwarfs with bright orange faces and green curly hair, haha 😄 Instead, they actually looked rather mechanical, and very steampunk. A little frightening perhaps for very small children

Gareth Snook who played Willy Wonka was flamboyant and quirky, Isaac Surgen who played Charlie Bucket cheerful and likeable and I actually thought Michael D’Cruze who played Grandpa Joe, extremely animated and full of zest, for an oldie 😛

It was funny Veruca Salt determined a ‘bad nut’ and exterminated in the trash by a giant squirrel, and Mike Teavee pixelating on TV

Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed the musical, and are so pleased we decided to go. We are all booked up for ‘The Wizard of Oz’ in February next year, at Sheffield Lyceum

Thank you so much for taking the time to read 😄 Many thanks, Lauren xx

(All information taken from bought programs)

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