Sneak Peek at... Douglas Hodge as Willy Wonka

As the major new stage musical adaptation of Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory enters previews, images have finally been released of Douglas Hodge as Willy Wonka. You can take a look through the pictures below, click on an image to enlarge. Click here to book tickets to see the musical.

Alongside Douglas Hodge as Willy Wonka, 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, Roni Page as Grandma Josephine and Myra Sands as Grandma Georgina. 

Casting Confirmed: Douglas Hodge to play Willy Wonka in Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Neal Street Productions and Kevin McCormick today announced that Olivier and Tony Award®-winning actor Douglas Hodge will play Willy Wonka in Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which opens at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 25th June next year. 

Tickets for the new musical go on public sale on Monday 15th October, for performances from 18th May 2013 until the end of the current booking period on Saturday 30th November 2013. 

Theatre Gossip: Douglas Hodge cast as Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

According to the Daily Mail, Douglas Hodge will play Willy Wonka in Sam Mendes, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman's musical adaptation of Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in the West End at Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Please remember that this news is yet to be officially confirmed.

The Newspaper claims that Sam Mendes said he wanted to cast a "proper actor" for the role and not just a celebrity and Olivier and Tony Award winner Hodge fits the bill. He has appeared on Broadway in La Cage Aux Folles and will appear this year in Jamie Lloyd's Cyrano de Bergerac. Hodge has also appeared in Donmar Warehouse's Inadmissible Evidence and West End productions of Guys and Dolls and Bashville.

Warner Bros, Theatre Ventures, Neal Street Productions and Kevin McCormick's production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will open at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in June 2013. Previews start on 18 May 2013. The theatre currently houses Shrek which recently announced that it will close in February 2013.