Just the Golden Ticket! New Olivier Nominee Josefina Gabrielle & More to Join West End's Chocolate Factory

Hot off the heels on the news that it is leading the pack with seven Olivier award nominations, Sam Mendes’ production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has announced new cast members for the show from May 19. Those who will now be visiting the sweet factory at London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane eight times a week include Josefina Gabrielle, who was also nominated for an Olivier March 10, for her role in Merrily We Roll Along.

Joining the previously announced Alex Jennnings as Willy Wonka and Gabrielle, who will play Mrs Teavee, will be Barry James as Grandpa Joe, Richard Dempsey as Mr. Bucket and Kirsty Malpass as Mrs. Bucket. New ensemble members will include Dan Cooke, Divine Cresswell, Connor Dowling, Gemma Fuller, Robert Jones, Matthew Rowland, Rebecca Seale, Gregory Sims, Paulo Teixeira and Laura Tyrer.

Based on Roald Dahl’s dark tale of young Charlie Bucket and the mysterious confectioner Willy Wonka, the musical centers on what happens when Charlie wins a golden ticket to the weird and wonderful Wonka Chocolate Factory. Beyond the gates astonishment awaits, though the five lucky winners discover not everything is as sweet as it seems. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory features a book by David Greig and music and lyrics by Tony winners Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. Clive Carter as Mr Salt, Jasna Ivir as Mrs Gloop, Paul J Medford as Mr Beauregarde, Billy Boyle as Grandpa George, Roni Page as Grandma Josephine and Myra Sands as Grandma Georgina will all remain in the cast.