Roald Dahl's deliciously dark tale of young Charlie Bucket and the mysterious confectioner Willy Wonka.
When Charlie wins a golden ticket to the weird and wonderful Wonka Chocolate Factory, it's the chance of a lifetime to feast on the sweets he's always dreamed of. But beyond the gates astonishment awaits, as down the sugary corridors, and amongst the incredible edible delights, the five lucky winners discover not everything is as sweet as it seems.
When Charlie wins a golden ticket to the weird and wonderful Wonka Chocolate Factory, it's the chance of a lifetime to feast on the sweets he's always dreamed of. But beyond the gates astonishment awaits, as down the sugary corridors, and amongst the incredible edible delights, the five lucky winners discover not everything is as sweet as it seems.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE 1970s FILM AND THE MUSICAL
Although the films and this musical are based on the original book there are a few differences, most of these are just small elements that happen in any page to stage adaptation. There are however a couple of bigger changes.
Firstly, the fates of the spoilt children are darker in the stage show - including verucca being pulled apart by squirrels(!) - there are however references to them being ‘put back together’!
Also, the score for the London version was completely new and didn’t feature any from the movie (until they slotted Pure Imagination and a great glass elevator in during previews). The broadway score restored most of the well know songs and the only ones noticeably missing are ‘Cheer up, Charlie’ and ‘I want it now’.
Firstly, the fates of the spoilt children are darker in the stage show - including verucca being pulled apart by squirrels(!) - there are however references to them being ‘put back together’!
Also, the score for the London version was completely new and didn’t feature any from the movie (until they slotted Pure Imagination and a great glass elevator in during previews). The broadway score restored most of the well know songs and the only ones noticeably missing are ‘Cheer up, Charlie’ and ‘I want it now’.
SONGS
- "The Candy Man"† - Willy Wonka and Ensemble
- "Willy Wonka! Willy Wonka!" - Charlie Bucket and Ensemble
- "The Candy Man" (Reprise) - Charlie Bucket
- "Charlie, You and I" - Grandpa Joe
- "A Letter from Charlie Bucket" - Charlie Bucket, Mrs. Bucket, and Grandparents
- "More of Him to Love" - Mrs. Gloop, Augustus Gloop, and Ensemble
- "When Veruca Says" - Mr. Salt and Veruca Salt
- "The Queen of Pop" - Mr. Beauregarde, Violet Beauregarde, and Ensemble
- "My Little Lad" - Mrs. Teavee, Mike Teavee, and Ensemble
- "If Your Father Were Here" - Mrs. Bucket
- "I've Got a Golden Ticket" † / "Grandpa Joe" - Charlie Bucket, Grandpa Joe, Grandparents, and Mrs. Bucket
- "It Must Be Believed to Be Seen" - Willy Wonka and Company
Act II
- "Strike That! Reverse It!" - Willy Wonka and Company
- "Pure Imagination"† - Willy Wonka, Charlie Bucket, Grandpa Joe, and the Golden Ticket Winners
- "The Oompa Loompa Song" † - Oompa Loompas
- "Auf Wiedersehen Augustus Gloop" - Willy Wonka and the Oompa Loompas
- "What Ya Want" - Willy Wonka and the Oompa-Loompas
- "Veruca's Nutcracker Sweet" – The Squirrels & Oompa-Loompas
- "Vidiots" – Willy Wonka, Mrs. Teavee and the Oompa-Loompas
- "The View From Here" - Willy Wonka and Charlie
Although there are some song differences, the Broadway Cast recording is closest to the version we are performing. It can be found here on CD and here on Spotify.
You can read the perusal script here