Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Michael Ball is Willy Wonka at the London Coliseum

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is coming back to the West End next summer, and tickets are on sale now. Michael Ball stars as Willy Wonka in a brand new staging of the Roald Dahl musical at the London Coliseum, playing a strictly limited season from 4 June to 18 September 2027. You can book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory tickets at the London Coliseum now.

Who is playing Willy Wonka?

Ball, a double Olivier Award winner, takes the role of the reclusive chocolatier. He created Marius in the original London production of Les Misérables and Alex Dillingham in Aspects of Love, and won his Oliviers as Edna Turnblad and as the demon barber of Fleet Street. He knows the Coliseum well, having returned there as Edna, which you can read about in our look back at his Hairspray return.

Ball plays Wonka in London only. At certain performances an alternate, yet to be named, takes the role, and the official production website lists those dates, so check before booking if seeing Ball matters to you. Further London casting, including Charlie Bucket and Grandpa Joe, has not been announced.

What is the story?

Based on Dahl's novel and the Warner Bros. film, the musical follows Charlie Bucket, a poor boy who finds a golden ticket to tour the mysterious Wonka factory. With Grandpa Joe at his side, he steps through the gates alongside fellow winners Augustus Gloop, Veruca Salt, Miss Beauregarde and Mike Teavee into a world of chocolate rivers and singing Oompa-Loompas.

The musical has a book by David Greig, music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman, the writing team behind the musical in which Ball played Edna. The songs also include The Candy Man and I've Got a Golden Ticket, plus the film's most famous number, all by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley from the 1971 film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

Who is behind the new production?

Nikolai Foster, artistic director of Curve in Leicester, directs. Choreography is by Ebony Molina, set design by Leslie Travers and costume design by Katrina Lindsay, with lighting by Ben Cracknell, sound by Adam Fisher and video by George Reeve. Chris Fisher designs the illusions, Rachael Canning the puppets and Campbell Young Associates the wigs, hair and make-up.

Stephen Brooker is musical supervisor, George Dyer adapts the orchestrations and Isaac McCullough is musical director. Casting is by Olivia Laydon for Jill Green Casting. The production is produced by ROYO, Fiery Angel, Gavin Kalin Productions and Curve.

The staging begins at Curve, where it plays from 21 November 2026 to 16 January 2027 with a separate cast led by Jonny Fines as Wonka, before it moves to London.

Has this musical played the West End before?

Yes. It opened at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in 2013 in a production directed by Sam Mendes, ran for more than three years and won Olivier Awards for costume and lighting design. You can revisit our review of the Drury Lane production. The 2027 version is a new staging rather than a return of that show.

When can I see it and what should families know?

Previews run from 4 to 12 June 2027, with a national press night on Sunday 20 June. The usual pattern is evenings at 7pm from Tuesday to Saturday, with 2pm matinees on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, plus a handful of added Monday and Sunday performances.

The show runs for about 2 hours 30 minutes, including a 20 minute interval. Official guidance is that it suits children aged 7 and over, all under 16s must be with an adult, and under 5s, including babes in arms, are not admitted. A captioned performance is on Wednesday 23 June, a signed performance on Wednesday 14 July and an audio described performance on Tuesday 7 September, all at 7pm.

The Coliseum sits on St Martin's Lane near Leicester Square, and our London Coliseum guide has seating and travel details. With the run lasting a single summer, pick your date early on our Charlie and the Chocolate Factory tickets page.

Header image: official artwork