Review: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Richmond Theatre
Review: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Richmond Theatre
Hugely creative visual feast
What better way to brighten a rainy February week than a trip to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Richmond Theatre? We went along to opening night and were absolutely blown away by this vivid, high-energy and brilliantly bonkers production from BROS Theatre Company.
Based on Roald Dahl’s beloved story and the hit West End and Broadway musical, the show blends classic songs from the 1970s film — including “The Candy Man” and “Pure Imagination” — with vibrant newer numbers from the award-winning writers of Hairspray. Under the direction of Paul Madeley and Sian Bowles-Bevan, with musical direction by Tom Chippendale, this ambitious amateur production feels nothing short of professional. BROS has real pedigree: the south west London theatre company has been going for more than 100 years, taking productions as far afield as the Minack Theatre in Cornwall when not performing locally, and regularly winning plaudits for its high production values.
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The story remains as darkly comic as ever. Some elements – such as the fat-shaming of Augustus Gloop and Bavarian stereotypes – may raise modern eyebrows, but Dahl’s sharp satire is delivered with a knowing wink.
Nick Moorhead’s Willy Wonka is gloriously eccentric, walking the fine line between whimsical and unsettling exactly as the role demands. Charlie (shared this week between Dylan Chohan and Anthony Eckley-Majercak) is portrayed with warmth and sincerity, making his journey touching. Anna Gold’s Veruca Salt pirouettes her way across the stage with impressive ballet flair, perfectly capturing the character’s entitlement, and her encounter with the squirrels is a standout moment. Clever shadow work and a conveyor-belt effect create a magical nut-sorting sequence that delights, while Augustus Gloop’s chocolatey downfall is another visual triumph, staged with creativity and flair. It’s all deliciously surreal – or, as my 13-year-old succinctly put it, “a fever dream”.
The second act in particular dazzles, with increasingly bold staging choices and a spectacular finale as Charlie and Wonka rise skywards in a beautifully executed closing image. The ensemble deserves special praise for their versatility and stamina, shifting seamlessly between high-energy dance numbers and more traditional musical theatre moments. The bright, colourful set design, enhanced by clever digital backdrops, sustains a sense of wonder throughout, while a live 13-piece orchestra adds yet another accomplished layer.
Imaginative, funny and appealing across generations, BROS Theatre Company’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a joyful escape: proof that even the rainiest week can be sweetened with a little theatrical magic. It runs until 21 February at Richmond Theatre, with a BSL-translated performance on 19 February.
