Willy Wonka’s fantastical world of sweets, songs, and imagination is set to enchant Filipino audiences as the hit stage musical Charlie and the Chocolate Factory arrives in Manila in 2026.
Based on the beloved children’s novel by Roald Dahl, the production will make its local debut at the Theatre at Solaire, bringing one of Broadway’s most visually spectacular shows to Philippine shores.
From West End Favorite to Global Tour
The musical first premiered on London’s West End in 2013, where it earned two Olivier Awards and enjoyed a successful four-year run. It later crossed the Atlantic for a reworked Broadway production that played for nine months.
In October last year, the show launched a three-year Global Tour at the Dongguan International Arts Festival in China, followed by a sold-out engagement at Shanghai Culture Square. Manila is among the tour’s highly anticipated stops, alongside performances scheduled in Hong Kong, Singapore, Hainan, Taipei, Seoul, as well as cities across India and the Middle East.
A Classic Story, Reimagined on Stage
Staying true to Dahl’s original tale, the musical follows young Charlie Bucket after he secures one of five golden tickets granting access to the secretive chocolate factory of Willy Wonka. Inside, audiences are treated to a whimsical spectacle featuring chocolate rivers, nut-sorting squirrels, mischievous Oompa-Loompas, and eccentric characters that burst to life through elaborate staging and choreography.
The score includes original music by Grammy and Tony Award-winning duo Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, complemented by iconic songs from the 1971 film adaptation such as “Pure Imagination,” “The Candy Man,” and “I’ve Got a Golden Ticket.”
High-Tech Magic Meets Live Theater
The Manila production is mounted by Broadway International Group and Broadway Asia, in collaboration with HY Culture Fund, Doug Meyer, AMA Group, GMG Productions, UnionBank of the Philippines, Bergamot Front Row Fund, and Willette Klausner.
Producers Simone Genatt and Marc Routh described the musical as “a dazzling fantasy for everyone from everywhere,” pointing to its extensive use of special effects and cutting-edge hologauze 3D technology. Adding to the visual spectacle is Las Vegas-based illusion designer Tim Clothier, who said creating new stage magic for Willy Wonka is “a dream come true.”
“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” will run at the Theatre at Solaire from July 8 to 26, 2026.
