Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at a glance

Show
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the Musical
Venue
London Coliseum
Address
St Martin's Lane, London WC2N 4ES
Nearest stations
Leicester Square and Charing Cross
Genre
Family musical
Running time
2 hours 30 minutes, including a 20-minute interval
Age guidance
Recommended 7+; under-5s, including babes in arms, are not admitted
Content
Haze, pyrotechnics and flashing lights
Dates
4 June – 18 September 2027 (previews to 12 June; press night 20 June)
Schedule
Evening performances at 7pm and afternoon performances at 3pm, including Sundays — check the booking calendar
Price range
From £16.50 (typically £16.50–£236)
Starring
Michael Ball as Willy Wonka (an alternate plays the role at certain performances)
Director
Nikolai Foster
Book
David Greig
Music
Marc Shaiman
Lyrics
Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman
Choreography
Ebony Molina
Producers
ROYO, Fiery Angel, Gavin Kalin Productions and Curve

Our Take: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the London Coliseum

4.2
★★★★★

LTH Anticipation Rating

Written by the London Theatre Hub editorial team. Last updated: 26 October 2026. This is an editorial anticipation rating — the production had not opened in London when we wrote this, and we will review it after it opens.

Why it's worth booking

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory spent almost four years at Theatre Royal Drury Lane after its 2013 London premiere, and it has been away from the West End since 2017. This is not a revival of that staging but a new production, created at Curve in Leicester by Nikolai Foster — the director whose Legally Blonde also arrives at the Coliseum in 2027.

The big draw is Michael Ball, a two-time Olivier winner (for Hairspray and Sweeney Todd) and one of the West End's most loved leading men, as Wonka. The score has also been strengthened for families who grew up on the 1971 film, with Pure Imagination, The Candy Man and I've Got a Golden Ticket sitting alongside Shaiman and Wittman's songs. Our rating is an anticipation rating; the run is summer only, and school-holiday dates tend to go first.

What Makes It Special

  • Michael Ball as Willy Wonka. A two-time Olivier Award winner, playing the role at the London Coliseum only.
  • A brand-new production. Directed by Nikolai Foster, it premieres at Curve in Leicester before transferring to London.
  • The songs you know. Pure Imagination, The Candy Man and I've Got a Golden Ticket, by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, join the score.
  • Spectacle on a big stage. Illusions by Chris Fisher, puppets by Rachael Canning and video by George Reeve in the West End's largest theatre.
  • A summer-holiday treat. A limited run from 4 June to 18 September 2027, right across the school holidays.

You'll love Charlie and the Chocolate Factory if you...

  • Want a big family musical for the summer holidays
  • Grew up with the Roald Dahl book or the 1971 film
  • Are a Michael Ball fan
  • Love stage magic, illusions and spectacle
  • Are looking for a special-occasion treat for children aged 7 and over

It might not be for you if you...

  • Have children under 7 — the show is recommended for ages 7+ and under-5s are not admitted
  • Prefer grown-up drama to family entertainment
  • Saw the Drury Lane production and want something completely different
  • Are sensitive to haze, pyrotechnics or flashing lights
  • Want to be sure of seeing Michael Ball — check his scheduled absences when booking

Best for

  • Families
  • Summer holidays
  • Roald Dahl fans
  • Michael Ball fans
  • Birthdays
  • Visitors to London

Less suited to very young children or audiences looking for a serious night at the theatre.

Critical Reception

The London run begins on 4 June 2027 with press night on 20 June, and has not yet been reviewed. We will add verified star ratings after press night. For context, the musical's original London production was recognised at the Olivier Awards:

  • Original London production (Drury Lane, 2013) 2 Olivier Awards from 7 nominations
  • 2027 Coliseum run Reviews to follow

Source: Olivier Awards 2014; London reviews to be added after press night.

Everything You Need to Know

What happens in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?

Charlie Bucket lives in poverty with his family, dreaming of the chocolate made in the mysterious factory across town. When the reclusive chocolatier Willy Wonka hides five golden tickets in his bars, promising the finders a tour of the factory, Charlie wants one more than anything.

Five golden tickets

The tickets go to a greedy boy, a spoiled girl, a gum-chewing champion, a screen-obsessed boy — and, against the odds, Charlie, who sets off with his Grandpa Joe.

Inside the factory

Wonka's factory is full of wonders, from chocolate rivers to Oompa-Loompas, but it is also a test. One by one, the other children come to sticky ends, and Charlie discovers what Wonka has really been looking for. The musical is based on Roald Dahl's 1964 novel.