Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

What is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the musical about?

Charlie Bucket has next to nothing, but he does have a golden ticket. When the reclusive chocolatier Willy Wonka opens his gates to five lucky children, Charlie steps through them into a spectacular world where chocolate rivers flow, Oompa-Loompas sing, inventions defy imagination and every room holds a delicious surprise. Alongside Grandpa Joe, Augustus Gloop, Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregarde and Mike Teavee, Charlie discovers that nothing is quite as it seems inside Wonka's extraordinary factory. Based on Roald Dahl's much-loved novel and the Warner Bros. film, the musical keeps the story's dark wit alongside its sweetness, and this brand-new production plays the London Coliseum for one summer only, from 4 June to 18 September 2027.

Who plays Willy Wonka at the London Coliseum?

Michael Ball OBE stars as Willy Wonka. A double Olivier Award winner, Grammy-nominated recording artist and BBC Radio 2 presenter, Ball created Marius in the original West End production of Les Misérables and won his Oliviers for Edna Turnblad in Hairspray and the title role in Sweeney Todd. The Coliseum is familiar ground: he played Anatoly in Chess there and returned as Edna in Hairspray on the same stage. Ball performs at the London Coliseum only, and at certain performances the role of Willy Wonka will be played by an alternate, to be announced. Further casting for London has not been released yet.

When is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the London Coliseum?

The strictly limited season runs from Friday 4 June to Saturday 18 September 2027. Preview performances run from 4 to 12 June, and the national press night is Sunday 20 June 2027. The regular schedule is Tuesday to Saturday at 7pm with 2pm matinees on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, plus a handful of added Monday and Sunday performances, so check the calendar for your date once booking opens. The production originates at Curve in Leicester, where it plays from 21 November 2026 to 16 January 2027 with a separate cast before transferring to London.

When do Charlie and the Chocolate Factory tickets go on sale?

Tickets go on general sale on Tuesday 29 September 2026 at 2pm, priced from £20 including fees. The producers are running a priority booking window for people who sign up at charliethemusical.com, and group and school reservations opened on 2 September 2026. This page will switch to live dates, prices and seat availability the moment tickets are released, so it is worth saving. You can also join the britishtheatre.com updates list and we will let you know when booking opens.

Which songs are in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the musical?

The score features the much-loved songs Pure Imagination, The Candy Man and I've Got a Golden Ticket from the classic 1971 film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, written by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley. They sit alongside the musical's original songs by Marc Shaiman, with lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman, the Tony Award-winning team behind Hairspray, and a book by Scottish playwright David Greig. The musical first opened in the West End at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in 2013, where it ran for over three years; you can read our four-star review of that original production. The 2027 staging is an entirely new production rather than a revival of the Drury Lane show.

Who is the creative team behind the new production?

Nikolai Foster, Artistic Director of Curve, directs, having brought Kinky Boots to the London Coliseum in 2026. He is joined by choreographer Ebony Molina, set designer Leslie Travers, Olivier Award-winning costume designer Katrina Lindsay (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), lighting designer Ben Cracknell, sound designer Adam Fisher, video designer George Reeve, who shared the Tony Award for Best Scenic Design for Maybe Happy Ending, illusion designer Chris Fisher (Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Back to the Future: The Musical) and puppet designer Rachael Canning. Stephen Brooker is musical supervisor with Isaac McCullough as musical director. The production is produced by ROYO, Fiery Angel, Gavin Kalin Productions and Curve.

Is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory suitable for children?

Yes. The London Coliseum's age guidance is 7 and above, and children under 5, including babes in arms, are not admitted to the auditorium. The show runs approximately 2 hours 30 minutes including one 20-minute interval, and it uses haze, pyrotechnics and flashing lights. Access performances are scheduled: a captioned performance on Wednesday 23 June, a British Sign Language interpreted performance on Wednesday 14 July and an audio described performance on Tuesday 7 September 2027, all at 7pm.

Where is the London Coliseum?

The London Coliseum is on St Martin's Lane, London WC2N 4ES, just off Trafalgar Square. It is the West End's largest theatre and a fittingly spectacular home for Wonka's factory. Leicester Square and Charing Cross are the nearest Underground stations, and Charing Cross is the closest mainline station. Our London Coliseum guide has the seating plan, access information and travel notes to help you pick seats when booking opens.

Similar shows you might enjoy

While you wait for the gates to open, Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical is playing at the Cambridge Theatre, and families can also book Paddington The Musical at the Savoy Theatre, The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre and Wicked at the Apollo Victoria.