Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Brisbane Arts Theatre
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Sat 01 Apr 2017 - Sat 10 Jun 2017
"I, Willy Wonka, have decided to allow five children – just five, mind you, and no more – to visit my factory this year." -
Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Children's author Roald Dahl's time in boarding school as a young boy was quite difficult; but he managed to find some solace as a chocolate bar "reviewer", scoring and ranking the various candy bars that Cadbury's would send to the young boarders as cheap market research. The confectionery game was quite a cutthroat one, and Dahl's later inspiration for
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was partially due to the fact that chocolate recipes weren't protected by patents and trademarks. Espionage between Cadbury's and Rowntree's was rife, and tales of spies working at each other's factories meant that the most special recipes were fiercely guarded.
The story was a resounding success spawning a sequel, film adaptations, video games and stage productions.
Brisbane Arts Theatre is proud to be showcasing this beloved children's tale from April through to June. The show takes the audience on a journey right through the middle of the most extraordinary chocolate factory in the world. Complete with the impossibly virtuous Charlie, and gorgeously irredeemable characters Mike Teavee, Augustus Gloop, Veruca Salt and Violet Beauregarde,
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will have you in stitches. It'll make your tummy rumble and give you a sense of achievement - as if you've provided the kids with quality parental advice as well. All the food groups!
This promises to be an especially vivid realisation of a cherished story, with exceptional costumes, colourful sets, and a talented cast and crew. I was lucky enough to both read and hear interviews with the star and director:
Eleanor Patch (Charlie)
12-year-old Eleanor told her parents she'd like to audition for Charlie and The Chocolate Factory and prepared (and memorised) the poem performed by the Oompa Loompas describing the demise of Mike Teavee.
Her parents encouraged her, but explained that she certainly wouldn't be successful, and that there were nearly 100 children auditioning for the play at Brisbane Arts Theatre. Dad Andrew said that he wanted her to have fun, but wanted to make sure she was prepared for disappointment too.
Despite being very nervous beforehand, and feeling a little apprehensive when she stepped on the stage, Eleanor's performance was excellent. She didn't imagine getting the part of Charlie at all so was quite overwhelmed when she got the news in early February. Director Paje Battilana said that the other children in
Charlie and The Chocolate Factory are larger than life actors; Eleanor's quiet, eloquent sweetness was exactly what she was looking for in the beloved character that is Charlie. In a recent ABC Radio interview, Paje notes that the character of Charlie struck her as an "endearing and sweet character that you just want to love"; when Eleanor took the stage, Paje couldn't stop watching her and knew that she had found her Charlie!
A student of Indooroopilly State High School, Eleanor is also a member of Brisbane Arts Theatre's College of Theatre Practice and attends the highly-regarded children's Saturday morning workshops. After being involved in a school production in 2015, she joined the cast of
A Christmas Carol at Brisbane Arts Theatre playing Belinda Cratchit, older sister Miss Pettiwig, and a schoolgirl in December 2016.
Eleanor says that A Christmas Carol gave her confidence and familiarity with the stage, and stoked her enthusiasm for acting, while Brisbane Arts Theatre has become her second home.
Paje Battilana – Director
Paje Battilana's first experience in theatre was playing Mrs Salt in a production of
Charlie & The Chocolate Factory at Noosa Arts Theatre, Queensland when she was 13, so directing the show now over two decades later completes her full circle. Paje spent several years acting and stage managing at the Independent Theatre in Eumundi, Queensland before moving to Sydney, NSW to study at NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Art).
Since her return to Brisbane in 2004, Paje has worked both on stage and behind the scenes at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Brisbane Powerhouse and several independent theatre companies. She has stage managed and directed 12 productions at Brisbane Arts Theatre over the last 11 years, including Disney's
The Little Mermaid Jnr in 2015.
Brisbane Arts Theatre is very happy indeed that Maleny Dairies has joined them in promoting
Charlie and The Chocolate Factory; during every show, one lucky seat will have a golden ticket for a family tour of Maleny Dairies – the farm, cows and the factory in Maleny. There'll also be a lucky seat prize of some chocolate milk!
You'll have the chance to meet Charlie and the rest of the cast, when the characters come out to the courtyard after each show to meet the children and sign autographs - a 50-year tradition of Brisbane's oldest theatre. For children to experience not only the front of the stage, but the inner workings of theatre is priceless. For the first timers, it is unforgettable with many children completely awestruck; for the 'old-hands' it is a matter of pride, getting the courage up again to ask for an autograph and collecting autographs over the years. It also provides a little bit of inspiration as children realise that these actors (most of them children themselves) are just like them – demystifying the stage itself and making it truly accessible. On this note, it's important to remember that Brisbane Arts Theatre is vertically integrated in the Brisbane dramatic community; as well as producing shows like
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and
Snugglepot and Cuddlepie: The Musical , Brisbane Arts Theatre also operates the College of Theatre Practice, teaching live production and technical services, as well as performing arts and providing in-theatre experience and nationally recognised training (Certificate III and IV) in these disciplines. The Saturday morning children's theatre classes also foster and instil some pretty solid dramatic skills in young actors, with main cast members of both
Charlie and
Snugglepot being alumni of the workshops.
Getting to the theatre is very easy. Located at 210 Petrie Terrace, it's only around an 800 metre walk from Roma St Station. Plan your journey with Translink
here .
If you prefer to drive, there is free 4-hour parking is available on either side of Petrie Terrace after 7pm on weekdays and at all times at weekends. On Suncorp Stadium game days, Petrie Terrace is excluded from the Lang Park Traffic Area's 15-minute restrictions. To avoid a parking fine, do not park in the side streets during events, which are limited to 15 minutes where unsigned. Alternative parking is available on Countess Street below Hargraves Park, parallel to the Busway.
**To keep up with this and upcoming events at the Brisbane Arts Theatre, make sure that you like their
Facebook page .
Book your tickets
here
The season runs from April 1, 4-8, 11-15, 22,23, 29, May 6, 13,14, 20, 27, June 3, and June 10, **
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!date 01/04/2017 -- 10/06/2017
%wnbrisbane
158992 - 2023-06-14 15:47:35