The Wales Millennium Centre is opening its doors to the sweetest musical in town
The Donald Gordon theatre in WMC is going to be home to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for a 17-day run between 3-20 May.
Based on the Roald Dahl novel, the popular musical is a joyful adaptation filled with sweet treats that can make your stomach turn and is stopping off in Cardiff as a part of its 2023 UK and Ireland tour.
The dream of stepping foot in Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory will practically be a reality when it arrives in the city which was the childhood home and birthplace of Dahl himself.
But the show may be arriving on a slightly sour note following recent controversy about some of the descriptors used in Dahl’s novels being changed to make the language more sensitive for modern audiences.
The Daily Telegraph reported that the use of the word “fat” in describing Augustus Gloop has been replaced with “enormous” instead in a re-issuing of the books for children.
With the musical being based on the novel, it begs the question as to whether or not the musical is subject to these changes as well?
Apparently not, according to a spokesperson for Wales Millennium Centre. They have made it clear that, “Although originally based on the Roald Dahl story, [the musical] has no involvement with the recent changes to the books.”
It is safe to assume the musical will remain true to its original version, being performed on the West End since 2013 it is possible that it may have what some regard as outdated notions as well.
One thing’s for sure is that you will still hear the comforting chimes of ‘Pure Imagination’ as well as some original numbers written by composers Scott Wittman and Mark Shaiman.