Following a successful TASA Awards, Northern Light Theatre Company return to the Shedley with a vibrant production of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, transporting audiences to mid-20th century England with colour, energy, and imagination.
Director Kristian Latella, following the success of his directorial debut with MCMT’s Twisted, has joined forces with seasoned Serena Cann as Musical Director and Jacinta Vistoli as Choreographer to create a wonderland of distinct characters, each with clearly defined motives that remain consistent throughout the production.
Act one places the focus on Willy Wonka, introduced as the mysterious ‘candy man’, conveniently on the corner of Charlie Bucket’s street, and the joyful chaos surrounding the discovery of the five golden ticket winners. Act Two takes the audience into Wonka’s factory, where the children are gradually “lost” one by one in a string of some of the musical’s strongest numbers, and the introduction of the Oompa Loompas.
Many musical number highlights, including The Candy Man, Charlie, You & I, When Veruca Says, The Queen of Pop, If Your Father Were Here, I’ve Got a Golden Ticket/ Grandpa Joe, It Must Be Believed to be Seen, Pure Imagination, and of course, The View from Here, give MD Cann plenty to work with among the characters and ensemble, and she has delivered a vocal showcase in some of Adelaide’s great talents.
David MacGillivray is phenomenal as Willy Wonka, delivering a performance that is whimsical, commanding, and endlessly engaging. He embodies the layered eccentricities of the role with confidence, but never loses the unpredictable spark that makes Wonka so compelling. It is a performance filled with personality and precision, and he anchors the production with remarkable ease.
Nemanja Ilic gives a commendable performance as Charlie Bucket. Given the young age of Ilic and the considerable work required to sustain such a demanding role, this is an achievement. Ilic brings warmth, sincerity, and emotional clarity to Charlie, creating a performance that is heartfelt.
Joshua Curtis, as Augustus Gloop, brings a strong German accent and great comic timing to the role. His portrayal is broad without becoming careless, and he makes Augustus immediately memorable.
Milla Ilic shines as Veruca Salt, particularly in the phenomenal ballet sequene with the squirrel dancers in Veruca’s Nutcracker: Sweet! The sequence a production highligh, made even more striking by the fabulously eerie squirrel costumes, adding a slightly unsettling charm. It is a visually captivating moment that showcases the strength of the choreography.
Vaseleia Markou gives Violet Beauregarde great character and stage presence, and she is aptly matched by Mr. Beauregarde (James Hester), whose exuberant energy complements her performance well.
Sam White’s Mike Teavee is another strong standout, with particular effective physical acting in the invisible room sequence. His work in this scene is precise, funny, and sharply observed.
Nicholas Latella and Jasmyn Setchell’s Jerry and Cherry, although small in roles, bring a welcome sense of fun and positivity, helping to keep the energy buoyant in Act One.
Julie Pollitt as Mrs. Bucket delivers a wonderful voice in If Your Father Were Here and the accompanying dance sequence with Bailey Edwards as Mr. Bucket is a genuine pleasure.
The featured dancers and ensemble consistently lift the show, adding polish, texture, and vitality whenever they appear. While the Oompa Loompa costumes were alarming in their design, there is appreciation the stage makeup didn’t include painting orange faces. The wigs, varying facials features and costumes were abundant in telling us who they were, and providing some individuality in the uniform.
While there were sound imbalance issues throughout the first act, which made some lyrics and dialogue difficult to understand, these are sure to be opening night teething problems rather than a reflection on the production’s quality. The lighting design is sharp, often cued upon striking moments that add another layer to the production.
Northern Light Theatre Company have delivered a lively, ambitious, and creative production full of theatrical wonder. Stay curious. Embrace creativity. Find wonder in the everyday.
