More children starring on stage as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory opens
Never has there been a better time to be a child actor in the West End of London.
With Charlie and the Chocolate Factory soon to be opening at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane they have held open auditions to cast children in the roles of Charlie himself, as well as the other four children, Augustus Gloop, Veruca Salt, Mike Teavee and Violet Beauregarde.
This show in London follows on from the success of the other Roald Dahl adaptation, Matilda, currently on at the Cambridge theatre with Matilda Wormwood, Bruce Bogtrotter and a whole host of children. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory musical opens at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on the 25th June 2013, with previews now scheduled from the 17th May.
Other shows currently in the West End starring children include Billy Elliot and The Lion King. With the strict rules governing child performers and how many hours they are allowed to be on stage, each part generally requires at least three children to rotate the performances. In some more demanding roles, such as Billy Elliot, which essentially is the starring part of the musical there can be five or six children scheduled to perform as Billy in rotation.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will be the first show in London to have five such main central characters, and they will need to abide by these strict rules to ensure that they are off stage at the required time, which means that there can be no curtain delay for late comers or those dwelling in the bar at the interval.
Following years of campaigning by the entertainment industry the laws governing child performers were reviewed in 2009. Previously much depended upon the local education authority area in which the child lived and the strictness with which that authority interprets legislation. The law had previously been reviewed in the 1960’s and authorities also needed to take into account the more stringent rules of the Children Act 2004, following the Soham murder case.
Rumours that the children appearing in Charlie and the Chocolate factory the musical will be paid in Wonka bars is reportedly false.
Sam Mendes’s new stage adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory starts previewing at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane from the 17th May. With the start button about to be pushed for the opening of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory book tickets for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory West End Show.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the musical about to push the big red button to open at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London
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