Nigel Planer, Clive Carter & More Join the West End’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Starring Douglas Hodge

Nigel Planer, Clive Carter, Jasna Ivir and more will join previously announced Tony winner Douglas Hodge in the world premiere musical adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Directed by Sam Mendes, the new West End musical features a book by David Greig and music and lyrics by Tony winners Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is scheduled to begin performances May 18 at London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane, with an official opening night scheduled for June 25.

In addition to Hodge as Willy Wonka, Planer as Grandpa Joe, Carter as Mr. Salt and Ivir as Mrs. Gloop, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will star Paul J. Medford as Mr. Beauregarde, Iris Roberts as Mrs. Teavee and Myra Sands as Grandma Georgina. The cast will also include Joe Allen, David Birch, Michelle Bishop, Mireia Mambo Bokele, Matthew Clark, Alex Clatworthy, Jennifer Davison, Luke Fetherston, Nia Fisher, Kate Graham, Clare Halse, Mark Iles, Daniel Ioannou, Kieran Jae, Jane McMurtrie, Natalie Moore-Williams, Sherrie Pennington, Damien Poole, Paul Saunders, Jack Shalloo and Jay Webb.

Based on Roald Dahl’s 1964 children’s book of the same name, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory tells the whimsical story of Charlie, a boy who wins a golden ticket to the weird and wonderful Wonka Chocolate Factory. But beyond the gates astonishment awaits, as down the sugary corridors, and amongst the incredible edible delights, the five lucky winners discover not everything is as sweet as it seems.

Planer’s West End credits include Evita, Chicago, We Will Rock You, Man of the Moment, Wicked, The Rocky Horror Show and Hairspray. His film and TV credits include The Young Ones, Brazil, Hogfather, The Color of Magic and The Comic Strip Presents… Carter’s West End credits include Wicked, Someone Like You, A Man For All Seasons, We Will Rock You, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, Les Miserables, The Phantom of the Opera, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Taming of the Shrew, Always, Into the Woods and Side by Side by Sondheim. His film and TV credits include The Da Vinci Code, Dalziel and Pascoe and EastEnders. Ivir has appeared in The Witches of Eastwick and The Phantom of the Opera in the West End. Her additional credits include Cats, Beauty and the Beast and Once Upon a Mattress. She currently appears in Hey, Mr. Producer! The Musical World of Cameron Mackintosh.