Glasgow ‘Willy Wonka’ event turned into Edinburgh Fringe show with original 1971 film actors

nme.com:

Willy Wonka children’s event that took place in Glasgow earlier this year is to be turned into an Edinburgh Fringe show – and two of the original actors from the 1971 film will be there.Earlier this year, an experience event for children that was based on Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonks And The Chocolate Factory book and the Timothée Chalamet movie, Wonka, went viral after receiving dozens of complaints from parents.What appeared to be an immersive, Wonka-themed attraction, disappointed many members of the Glasgow public after being held in an abandoned warehouse using cheap props, costumes plus an AI-generated script.The £35 a ticket event was quickly shut down after receiving dozens of complaints from angry parents, many of whom demanded their money back and called the police.Now, Julie Dawn Cole and Paris Themmen, who played Veruca Salt and Mike Teevee respectively in the 1971 movie starring Gene Wilder, will co-narrate a new show at Edinburgh Festival based on the debacle.Willy’s Candy Spectacular: A Musical Parody will also see some of those involved in the original event in Glasgow will also take part, including Kirsty Paterson, who became a viral hit after pictures emerged of her as a sad Oompa Loompa.

Organisers also promised there would be some additional “surprises” leading to speculation some of the other actors involved in the original event will participate.The show, created by US producer Richard Kraft and directed by Andy Fickman, will run at the Pleasance King Dome from 9-26 August.A post shared by Willys Candy Spectacular (@willyscandyspectacular)Speaking about the show, producer Kraft said: “It was only in March that I came up with the notion for a stage musical,” (via Sky News).He continued: “I had a press.