24th January 2012
The Guardian recently reported that Charlie and the Chocolate Factory could be the next Roald Dahl classic to transfer to the London stage.
Following the recent success of Tim Minchin and the RSC’s Matilda the Musical, Sam Mendes is said to be in talks with Warner Bros to bring a lavish stage adaptation of Willy Wonka’s adventures to the West End in 2013.
Looking to replicate the winning formula of playwright Dennis Kelly and comic Minchin, it has been rumoured that successful writing duo Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman are being lined up to work on the project. As far as the rest of the team is concerned, Olivier award winner Mark Thompson is being touted to design with choreography by Peter Darling.
If the venture comes to fruition it would be the first theatrical adaptation of the hugely popular childrens’ novel which has previously been brought to life in Gene Wilder’s 1971 film and, more recently, Tim Burton’s 2005 version starring Johnny Depp.