Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

The factory gates will soon be opening for Sam Mendes’s production of Roald Dahl’s riotous morality tale set in a fantastical sweet empire. News that Douglas Hodge, the Tony- and Olivier-winning star of 'La Cage Aux Folles', will play candy cane-twirling sweetie impresario Willy Wonka bodes well for a central performance full of eccentricity and complexity.

Finally moving from the rumour mill to reality (even if it is a reality in which pillows are made from marshmallows and lollipops grow on trees), ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ will feature new songs by composer-lyricist Marc Shaiman and lyricist Scott Wittman, with a book by Scottish playwright David Greig. He’ll be looking to repeat the success of ‘Matilda’s adaptor Dennis Kelly while putting his own stamp on Dahl’s joyfully grotesque world.

Sam Mendes - Director
The Academy Award-winning director is returning to the West End to bring Roald Dahl's fantastical world to life. After a long-standing career in London's Theatre world, we're guaranteed a hit.

Marc Shaiman (music and lyrics) and Scott Wittman (lyrics) - Score
This seasoned lyricist and composer-lyricist team are the brains behind the brand new score for 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'. They'll be helping to re-introduce us to Dahl's colourful characters, and we're sure to receive something special from the creators of 'Hairspray', the Broadway musical 'Catch Me if You Can' and TV hit 'Smash'.

David Greig - Writer
With his plays having been commissioned by some of the best theatres and companies in the world, including the Royal Court, the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company, Greig is the perfect voice to bring Roald Dahl's classic story right up to date.

Douglas Hodge - Willy Wonka
After winning both a Tony and Olivier Award for 'La Cage aux Folles', Douglas Hodge is set to bring the quintessentially eccentric Willy Wonka to life. With more stage credits than you've had hot dinners, Hodge is making us very excited about the cast announcement.

Find out more about the making of 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' in these video interviews with the production team.

The Theatre Royal Drury Lane is the grande dame of London theatres. Its site has been in constant use as a playhouse since the 1600s and, despite the building's various incarnations, things haven't changed much over the years.

To reach the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, take the Piccadilly Line to Covent Garden tube station. Head south east towards Covent Garden Market, walk east around the court, turning left on to Russell Street and then right on to Charlotte Street. The theatre is on your left.

The show's director, Sam Mendes, talks us through the adaptation of the classic tale, and puppet and illusion designer Jamie Harrison talks Oompa-Loompas.

Set and costume designer Mark Thompson explains how a show's set goes from imagination to reality, via lots of little models.

Playwright David Greig and songwriters Scott Whitman and Marc Shaiman explain how they turned Roald Dahl's enchanting words into a script and score.

The writers explain how they overcame busy schedules to get all the elements together to form the new show.