Old Rep Theatre. 13 September 2026
Based on the book by Roald Dahl. Book by David Greig. Music by Marc Shaiman.
Producers: Louise Sall and Tim Rice. Musical Director: Emily Breaman. Choreographer: Beau.
Based on the classic Roald Dahl book, this is the story of a young boy who wins a chance to tour a chocolate factory, along with 4 other winners, only to find the tour is actually a competition to see who truly sees the magic.
This lovely group brought the fun even before the curtain went up, with the housekeeping voiceovers done by some of the cast. It was a lovely touch, and it had the audience drawn in from the start. The fun continued when we were thrown straight into the opening number, The Candy Man, and it never stopped until the final curtain call.
Costumes were fantastic. So much thought had gone into them, and every single one was nothing short of perfect. The stage was a mass of bright colours, and every costume was perfectly suited to the character. The same goes for wigs and make-up. Lighting worked perfectly, with lighting always perfectly on cue. Sound was really well done but I did think music was slightly too loud for the voices in one or two places. Choreography, by Beau, was outstanding. The entire production team did an amazing job and they should all be so proud of themselves.
The set was so well done, with lots of painted backdrops to set the scene. Set changes were accomplished very quickly and with no fuss. The backstage crew were like a well-oiled machine.
As always, with such a large cast, it’s hard to mention everyone. However, every single member of this cast did so well, and they all deserve accolades. The ensemble was brilliant. They were all energetic and enthusiastic and every one of them gave their all. The Oompa Loompas were fabulous, and I absolutely loved the squirrels’ acrobatics. Every supporting performance was great, with not a single weak link among them.
Billy Morris-Steele was outstanding as Willy Wonka. Billy is an amazing young actor. He exudes confidence. He was word-perfect and has a lovely voice, for both speaking and singing. Even in blackout, he never let his character drop.
Oliver Malkin was an absolute joy as Charlie Bucket. He was full of energy with a very expressive face and a beautiful quality to his voice when singing. He gave a very confident performance.
Mae Gregory-Martin was great as Mrs Bucket. She has a very nice voice and gave a lovely performance as the put-upon mother. The grandparents provided wonderful support.
I loved Isla Ricketts as Mrs Teavee. Her singing voice amazed me, while Summer Clarke made a great Mike. Charlotte Wilkins-Brotherton made an excellent Veruca. She’s a very good dancer and she played the spoilt little girl well. Leo Stubbington was great as her father and I loved his accent.
I loved Augustus Gloop and his mother, played by Jorge Lynn and Amelia Jordan respectively. They had wonderful chemistry together. Darcy Saunders and Lewis Ward-Bygrave were great as Violet and Mr Beauregarde.
Millie McMullan gave a very polished performance as Cherry Sunday, and Verity Maidment was lovely as Mrs Green.
This lovely musical play was a joy from beginning to end. Every song was wonderful and every young person was word-perfect and knew all of the choreography so well. I think it’s safe to say the future of amateur theatre in Birmingham has a bright future with young people like these at the helm.
Thank you Script Youth for taking me to a world of pure imagination.
Reviewed by Lesley L.
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