Review: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in Potters Bar

As a kid, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was my favourite Roald Dahl book. Its intricate black pen illustrations forced young readers to conjure up Wonka’s world of candy colours in their heads.

No need for that in Green Room’s production of the musical retelling: the flood of Wonka-purple and teal on the opening set heralded the technicolor riot that was about to assault our senses.
 
I say ‘retelling’: the musical is necessarily different to the book. There are plot tweaks — and many contemporary additions such as social media and Mike Teavee’s addiction to phone apps.

But the essence is still that of the mysterious chocolatier seeking a child heir to his brand, and offing the four unlucky runners-up in the process.

Willy Wonka in Green Room's production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Wyllyotts Theatre in Potters Bar (Image: Steve Fothergill)
 As Willy Wonka, John Isaac was wonderfully eccentric, blurring the line between avuncular confectioner and something much darker. Just when we think he’s being nice, he cuts in with a cruel putdown, and Isaac managed such surprises with perfect timing.

The show is really in his hands and he steered it, and his guests, superbly from one song and dance number to another.
 
Sharing the limelight with Wonka is young Charlie Bucket, played on my night by the remarkable Noah Clarke.

This is a huge role for very small shoulders and 11-year-old Noah was phenomenal, combining a skilled acting performance, by turns disconsolate and full of beans, with a fantastic singing voice, right from his powerful first number.

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And I definitely had something in my eye on his final entrance, in his own little Wonka costume.

I didn’t get to see in person Sienna Benjamin who played Charlie in half the dates, but a few video clips prove that she also gave an outstanding performance. 

Green Room's production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Wyllyotts Theatre in Potters Bar (Image: Steve Fothergill) It was a clever decision by director John Hebden to cast adults as the other four ‘children’. This not only emphasised Charlie’s vulnerability, it also meant that each character’s introductory song and dance number had maximum effect.

For Augustus, played hilariously by a fat-suited Henry Martin, we had a traditional Bavarian oompah scene, all dirndls and lederhosen. For Veruca, we were treated to a full ballet number, led by Lucy Bishop-Laggett, deliciously unpleasant as the spoilt brat.

Gum-chewing Violet, perfectly brash and loud in Molly Tello’s hands, led a Fame-inspired chorus line. And cosseted rebel Mike, played by a believably youthful Ruaridh MacPhee, fronted his gang of baseball-capped and camo-ed mates for a bright yellow and orange street dance number.

Green Room's production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Wyllyotts Theatre in Potters Bar (Image: Steve Fothergill) Their respective parents were played with wonderful hideousness by Sam Buckingham, Ben Roden, Elliott Moore and Heather Jordan.

These were in sharp contrast to Charlie’s family, including a beautifully tender performance by Caroline Fitch as mum, and a sprightly Howard Wright as Grandpa Joe.

All were supported by a superb ensemble, with the biggest surprise of the night being the army of 18 superb Oompa-Loompa puppets. 

Oompa-Loompas in Green Room's production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Wyllyotts Theatre in Potters Bar (Image: Steve Fothergill)Space prevents me naming everyone behind the scenes but they all excelled in what is a challenging show — from Alastair Woodgate’s ingenious sets to the faultless music from Susana Tierney’s 11-strong band. 
 
Green Room have once again given us pure magic, in a show where every audience member’s ticket was a golden one!

Green Room's next production will be Everybody’s Talking About Jamie from Tuesday, February 25 to Saturday, March 1, 2025.