A Wyvern Sweet Treat – in the form of the Tanwood Youth Theatre’s* production of Roald Dahl’s, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
In the 1971 film, Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka sang:
Come with me and you’ll be
In a world of pure imagination
Take a look and you’ll see
Into your imagination …
And that’s exactly what this production offers – glass elevator and all.
And a world of pure imagination is exactly what this gorgeous production takes you into with an actual glass elevator and all accompanied by a real-life orchestra. The sets are fab and there’s some rather good special effects – aside from the elevator.
I so enjoyed this show. There’s something so precious and heartwarming and life-affirming about watching young people putting themselves out there for our viewing pleasure. In particular when one knows they’ve worked their socks off to perfect their performances. The summer youth projects at the Wyvern are similarly joyful experiences. Always.
Talking of performances, I’m ever in awe, when watching these things, at just how good everyone is – no missed dance steps that I noticed – even with the little ones. They both amaze and delight! Again, always.
Also – apropos of nothing related to their performances – I was v jealous of the multicoloured goggles the Oompa-Loompas wore in the Department of Future Technology scene. They looked cool.
Anyway, returning to performances, #obvs everyone was truly terrific and Matt Cremin gave us a wonderful Wonka for sure.
But I must give special mention to Sophie Ballentyne as Charlie Bucket – if only for her diction. That’s not the only reason but definitely for that. I heard every word she said or sang – and that’s more than I can say for many professionals I’ve seen. So thank you Sophie – fab job! Delectable diction aside, I thought she did a super job with the role too. It’s a big one to carry – being the epnoymous central character and all. One she carried off with charm and warmth and aplomb.
Thanks must go too, to what must be an army of folk behind the scenes getting the ensemble in and out of their costumes. I’m picturing frenetic backstage activity – so well done all of you!.
So look, the world is all a bit rubbish at the moment (to understate things) so if you want something to take your mind of it all for a couple of hours then get along to the Wyvern and lose yourself in Willy Wonka’s world. If anyone can take your mind off things – if only for a while – then the candy man can!
Book your tickets here: https://trafalgartickets.com/wyvern-theatre-swindon/en-GB/event/family/tanwood-youth-theatre-charlie-and-the-chocolate-factory-tickets – SIX PERFORMANCES ONLY SO DON’T DELAY.
*In conjunction with Stage Experience Pro
Above – a few scenes from rehearsals.
Social media
Find the Tanwood Youth Theatre on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/TanwoodYouthTheatre and on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/tnwdyouththeatre/
The inspiration for the novel
Written in 1964, by Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a children’s novel. It features the adventures of young Charlie Bucket inside the eponymous factory owned by an eccentric chocolatier who goes by the name of Willy Wonka.
The inspiration for the story came from Dahl’s experience of chocolate companies during his schooldays at Derbyshire’s Repton School. It seems that Cadbury often sent test packages to the pupils as market research. At that time (circa 1920s) Cadbury and Rowntree were England’s two largest chocolate makers. It wasn’t beyond each of them to try and steal the other’s trade secrets. They sent spies posing as employees into the other’s factory. Thus inspiring Dahl’s recipe thieving spies such as Wonka’s rival in the book, Slugworth.
As a result, both companies became V protective of their chocolate-making processes. The combination of this secrecy and the elaborate, often huge, machines in the factory inspired Dahl to write the book.
Before you go:
Book your tickets here:https://trafalgartickets.com/wyvern-theatre-swindon/en-GB/event/family/tanwood-youth-theatre-charlie-and-the-chocolate-factory-tickets –
SIX PERFORMANCES ONLY SO DON’T DELAY.
