CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY Breaks West End Record for Highest Weekly Sales

Last week (Monday 28th October to Saturday 2nd November 2013) Roald Dahl's' Charlie and the Chocolate Factory broke the West End record for the highest reported weekly gross sales. Over the course of the nine show week almost 20,000 people saw the musical at Theatre Royal Drury Lane achieving a record value of £1,062,606. This figure also breaks the show's own Drury Lane record set in August 2013. Since the box office opened in October 2012 the show has taken £21million in ticket sales and is now booking through to November 2014.

On Tuesday 12 November at 9pm Channel 4 broadcasts the first in a four part series about musicals in the West End. Commissioned by Tabitha Jackson, the first hour-long episode in The Story of Musicals is dedicated entirely to the making of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The team from Fresh One productions was granted exclusive access behind the scenes at rehearsals and on opening night and the documentary features interviews with Director, Sam Mendes, the creative team and cast members.

On Thursday 7th November, Sir Terry Wogan will host a special Gala performance of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in aid of BBC Children in Need. The performance, which will be attended by a line-up of BBC Radio DJs and friends, as well as 2000 members of the public, aims to raise over £50,000 for the charity's annual campaign which provides grants to projects in the UK which focus on children and young people who are disadvantaged.

The cast of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will join Gary Barlow, Attraction - winners of Britain's Got Talent, Brit Award winner Olly Murs and Dame Edna Everage, along with a host of other UK and international talent yet to be announced, to perform at the Royal Variety Show 2013 on 25 November at the London Palladium. The event, produced by ITV Studios and staged in aid of the Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund, whose patron is Her Majesty The Queen, will be screened on ITV in December.

The production is involved in Warner Bros. Creative Talent, a programme which supports the next generation of UK creative industries' talent with scholarships attached to work placements and mentoring, apprenticeships and training course, giving people from all backgrounds invaluable industry experience and insight across Warner Bros.' UK film, TV, games and theatre operations. Five work placements are to be offered behind the scenes at Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, with the most talented student receiving an additional three month placement.

Olivier and Tony Award-winning actor Douglas Hodge plays Willy Wonka in Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, directed by Sam Mendes, which opened at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 25th June 2013.

Featuring ingenious stagecraft, the wonder of the original story that has captivated the world for almost 50 years is brought to life with music by Marc Shaiman, and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, a book by award-winning playwright and adaptor David Greig, set and costume designs by Mark Thompson and choreography by Peter Darling.

Alongside Douglas Hodge, the cast includes Nigel Planer as Grandpa Joe, Clive Carter as Mr Salt, Jasna Ivir as Mrs Gloop, Paul J Medford as Mr Beauregarde, Iris Roberts as Mrs Teavee, Billy Boyle as Grandpa George, Alex Clatworthy as Mrs Bucket, Roni Page as Grandma Josephine, Myra Sands as Grandma Georgina and Jack Shalloo as Mr Bucket.

The Official Cast Recording album is available now on Sony Records, on CD and download.