Alex Jennings to Replace Douglas Hodge as 'Willy Wonka' in CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, Beg. May 19

The West End is getting a new Willy Wonka. Taking over for Olivier and Tony Award-winning actor Douglas Hodge in Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will be fellow Olivier-winner Alex Jennings, according to the Daily Mail. Directed by Sam Mendes, the production opened at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 25 June 2013 and recently extended through May 20, 2015. Hodge's last performance is set for May 17, with Jennings taking over May 19, 2014.

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Jennings has appeared in the West End in Too Clever by Half at the Old Vic, for which he won a 1988 Olivier Award. He was nominated the following year for his performance in The Liar. He has appeared in several productions at the Royal National Theatre, including The Winter's Tale and Albert Speer. He has starred in plays for the RSC, including Peer Gynt, which gave him another Olivier win in 1995, Richard II, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Measure for Measure and Hamlet. He starred in 2002's My Fair Lady at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, and won the Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical.

The story of CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY 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 byMark Thompson and choreography by Peter Darling.

The cast also features 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 Shallooas Mr Bucket.

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

This world premiere musical is produced by Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Neal Street Productions and Langley Park Productions.