Get your Golden Ticket now, because Willy Wonka is heading back to Joburg.
Joburg Ballet, by arrangement with the Roald Dahl Story Company, is bringing its award-winning Charlie and the Chocolate Factory back to the stage at the Lyric Theatre, Gold Reef City, for 11 performances only, from 27 November to 6 December 2026.
Choreographed by Joburg Ballet’s Associate Choreographer Mario Gaglione, with an original score by award-winning composer Mark Cheyne and Andrew Botha as design consultant, the production premièred at the Joburg Theatre in October 2024 to rave reviews, and went on to become one of the most celebrated South African productions of that year.
What the critics said
“It’s a hugely thrilling experience to hear and watch, for the first time, the strains of Cheyne’s score, Willy Wonka stepping onto the stage, his top hat in place according to the character description known to the millions of fans familiar with Roald Dahl’s classic book.” Bruce Dennill, pARTicipate
“The opening performance was nothing short of spectacular!” Renate Engelbrecht, Hello Lifestyle
“The birth of something quite remarkable! Dazzling colours and costumes, gorgeous sets and lighting and the most beautiful chocolate flooding the stage.” Sam Nupen, SamSays
A golden ticket for the choreographer too
“For me, creating and choreographing Charlie in 2024 felt very much like finding my own golden ticket. It gave me a rare chance to share something magical! It was my hope then that it would become a golden moment for every child, and grown-up, in the audience, filling them with joy and wonder they’d never forget,” says Gaglione.
“And now, bringing Charlie back after two years is again a dream come true, and my desire to share the magic is even stronger now, from the little dancers to the wonderful professionals of the company and, of course, all the children and grown-ups in the audience.”
Who you will see on stage
The leading roles of Willy Wonka and Chocolate will be danced by Revil Yon and Monike Cristina, Ivan Domiciano and Ryoko Yagyu, Bruno Miranda and Chloé Blair (debut), and Miguel Franco-Green (debut) and Gabriella Ghiaroni (debut).
Jayden Josh Samuels returns as Charlie, with Matthew Jansen van Vuuren and Shane MacDonald making their debuts in the role.
Joining the company for the season are the young dancers of the Joburg Ballet Academy and Joburg Ballet School, along with returning character artists Albertus Dreyer and Christopher Montague, plus Nigel Hannah and Sue Kirkland.
Casting for Willy Wonka, Chocolate and Charlie
Subject to change.
- Friday 27 November, 19h00: Revil Yon, Monike Cristina, Jayden Josh Samuels
- Saturday 28 November, 14h00: Ivan Domiciano, Ryoko Yagyu, Matthew Jansen van Vuuren (debut)
- Saturday 28 November, 18h30: Bruno Miranda, Chloé Blair (debut), Jayden Josh Samuels
- Sunday 29 November, 14h00: Revil Yon, Monike Cristina, Shane MacDonald (debut)
- Wednesday 2 December, 11h00: Ivan Domiciano, Ryoko Yagyu, Matthew Jansen van Vuuren
- Thursday 3 December, 11h00: Miguel Franco-Green (debut), Gabriella Ghiaroni (debut), Shane MacDonald
- Thursday 3 December, 18h30: Revil Yon, Monike Cristina, Jayden Josh Samuels
- Friday 4 December, 19h00: Bruno Miranda, Chloé Blair, Jayden Josh Samuels
- Saturday 5 December, 14h00: Ivan Domiciano, Ryoko Yagyu, Matthew Jansen van Vuuren
- Saturday 5 December, 18h30: Miguel Franco-Green, Gabriella Ghiaroni, Shane MacDonald
- Sunday 6 December, 14h00: Revil Yon, Monike Cristina, Jayden Josh Samuels
Charlie Open Day
Want a fun-filled, behind-the-scenes peek before the curtain goes up? A Charlie Open Day takes place at the Joburg Ballet Studios, 26 Hoofd Street, Braamfontein, on Saturday 21 November from 10h00 to 13h00. Tickets are R165 per person, with unreserved seating. Bookings are through Quicket.
Need to know
- Show: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Joburg Ballet
- Venue: Lyric Theatre, Gold Reef City, Johannesburg
- Dates: 27 November to 6 December 2026 (11 performances, all to recorded music)
- Tickets: R200 to R980. All tickets for the 11h00 performances on Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 December are R200 (no further discounts)
- Discounts: Children under 7: 50%; scholars, students and under 26: 15%; pensioners: 15%; Friends of the Ballet: 35%; groups of 10+: 5%; groups of 20+: 10%
- Duration: Act 1: 50 min, Act 2: 40 min, Act 3: 35 min
- Age restriction: None, open to all ages
- Bookings: www.webtickets.co.za
An award-winning sweet treat
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory earned several nominations at the 20th Annual Naledi Theatre Awards 2025: Best Choreography for Mario Gaglione, Best Performance for Jayden Josh Samuels as Charlie and Monike Cristina as Chocolate, and Best Production. It took home the Best Production award, along with a Special Award: Achievement in Theatre for Mark Cheyne’s original score.
It also received the Outstanding Dance Production Award at the 2025 National Arts and Culture Awards (NACA), hosted by the South African Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.
Joburg Ballet extends its gratitude to Honorary Life Patron Annzie Hancock of the South African Ballet Theatre Trust for her generous contribution towards the costumes for this production. The ballet of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is presented in association with the Roald Dahl Story Company (www.roalddahl.com).
For more on Joburg Ballet’s 25th Anniversary Season, visit www.joburgballet.com, or follow the company on Facebook (@JoburgBalletCompany), Instagram (@joburgballet), X (@joburgballet) and LinkedIn (@joburgballet).
