VISITING primary school children from Brighton packed Roedean’s theatre to feast on its latest production, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
From the instantly recognisable songs to the magical bubbles that floated down into the audience, prompting gasps of delight, the show was a hit.
The production captured the spirit of Roald Dahl’s classic story with pace, humour and warmth. Every pupil on stage embraced the playful absurdity of the world of Willy Wonka, creating a show that was consistently funny and bursting with character. The Oompa Loompas were a particular delight, delivering their scenes with comic precision and an infectious energy that drew laughter from adults and children alike.
As Willy Wonka, Year 13 student Rosa Lawrence was masterful, delivering a thoughtful, slightly other-worldly performance that was captivating. Year 7’s Sylvia Bennett, appearing in her first Roedean production as Charlie Bucket, was outstanding. She combined assured acting with confident vocals and a winsome charm perfectly suited to Dahl’s gentle hero. Meanwhile, Lola Magee brought warmth and vocal strength to the role of Mrs Bucket, her excellent singing adding emotional depth to the family at the heart of the story, and Harrie Kavagnah nailed it as the breathless US TV reporter Cherry Sundae.
Pupils worked not only as performers, but also as musicians in the band, assistant and deputy stage managers, and as part of the props, lighting, sound and technical teams. The stage setting was imaginative and fluid, supporting the storytelling beautifully, while the colourful, inventive costumes added to the sense of fantasy and fun.
From start to finish, this was a richly rewarding production and a celebration of creativity and collaboration that the children in the audience adored.
Said Roedean director of drama and show co-director Susan Woodbridge: “Dahl wrote the book about his own school experience – the chocolate maker Cadbury’s used to taste-test their chocolate bars at Dahl’s school, and he used to dream that he would invent a new chocolate bar and win praise from Mr Cadbury. Like Charlie, Dahl enjoyed the process of writing, and he would create his magical stories in his shed at the bottom of the garden, in a comfy armchair using yellow paper and pencil to write with. Wonka also has a special notebook and quill, showing how the most ordinary of ideas can become magical. This context is inspirational to our students, as they are encouraged to observe the world around them to create personal and imaginative art, in music, dance, drama, designing, or drawing. Perhaps this is why Charlie and The Chocolate Factory has been able to transcend time. It gives us the chance to imagine ourselves bigger than what’s in front of us.”
