Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
- Gracie Tomlin
- 12 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, performed by the Playbox Theatre at The Dream Factory, Warwick. Directed by Juliet Vankay. Performances run until Sunday 28 December 2025. See Playbox Theatre's website for dates and times.
Review by Gracie Tomlin.
On 12 December 2025, my family and I were treated to a gift of a Christmas performance; Playbox Theatre’s opening night of ‘Charlie and the Chocolate factory’. Director, Juliet Vankay, brings us a colourful, humorous take on a classic family story, leaving us all in roaring fits of laughter throughout, and tears of joy at its finale.
With such a personal connection to the tale, years of reading the book, dreaming of chocolate rivers, glass elevators, and drinks that can make you fly, the performance reignited my imagination and for a 2 and a half hour period, was reverted back to my childhood innocence, reminded of the importance of positivity, hope and dreams no matter how big. This is the perfect show for you and your children with something for the whole family, bringing the Christmas magic to life, I only wish I could have it all year around.
The visuals of this performance, be it the spectacle of the chocolate room, the rich and intricate costumes, or the colours and beauty of the set design, visually the performance was a feast for the audience; I found myself in awe.
As a senior member of playbox, I was delighted, once again, to see the work of my talented friends and the budding up and coming actors younger than me in practise, doubtless the highlight of the performance. Of these, our Willy Wonka, Jack Hobson particularly shines in his role, combining the crazed and nutty elements of our Gene Wilder’s performance as well as the sincerity and heartfelt genius of the part, creating the exact perception of the character I had imagined growing up more than any other I have seen.
Similarly, I felt honoured to witness the talent of our little leading lady, Aria Winterburn Langdon, as our little Charlie Bucket commanding the stage with her wit, honesty and imagination; I’m sure there will be lots more to come! All of the grotesquely funny characters, both the rotten children and their, let’s say, misguided parents was a highlight for me, their chemistry and timing was second to none; exactly what Roald Dahl is all about.
With such a large cast, be it the wit and genius comedic timing of Charlie’s bedridden grandparents, the rich and angelic vocals of our Mrs Bucket, the dancing spectacle of our Oompa ensemble or the charming fresh faces of our reporters, I was astounded by the cast’s performances and only wish I could go into further detail.
Ultimately, the performance made me proud to be part of such a wonderful and talented familial community, in which such Christmas magic can be created every year. We thank you Playbox theatre and roll on 2026!
For tickets and details of dates and times of performances, please visit: https://www.playboxtheatre.com/events/charlie-and-the-chocolate-factory/
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