Joburg Ballet welcomes back its first classically based full-length ballet production based on Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, running at the Joburg Theatre from 27 November to 6 December 2026. This must-see production was conceived in partnership with the Roald Dahl Story Company and initially premiered at the Joburg Theatre in October 2024 to rave reviews and critical acclaim.
Behind the making of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ballet
Joburg Ballet choreographer Mario Gaglione conceived the work in classical ballet style with an original music score composed by Mark Cheyne and Andrew Botha as design consultant.
“For me, creating and choreographing Charlie in 2024 felt very much like finding my own golden ticket,” says Gaglione, who earned a nomination for Best Choreography at the 20th Annual Naledi Theatre Awards 2025.
“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.”
For Gaglione, bringing the show back after two years is again a dream come true, and his 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.
A special new musical score
Having 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, audiences can look forward to Monike Cristina and Revil Yon, Ivan Domiciano and Ryoko Yagyu, Bruno Miranda and the debuts of Chloé Blair, Miguel Franco-Green, and Gabriella Ghiaroni, each in the leading roles of Willy Wonka and Chocolate.
The role of Charlie will be danced again by Jayden Josh Samuels, with Matthew Jansen van Vuuren and Shane MacDonald debuting in the role.
Joining the company for the season are the young dancers of the Joburg Ballet Academy and Joburg Ballet School, returning character artists Albertus Dreyer and Christoper Montague, and also Nigel Hannah and Sue Kirkland.
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.
How to book tickets
There is a Charlie Open Day, a fun-filled, behind-the-scenes peek at the ballet, held at the Joburg Ballet Studios on Saturday, 21 November from 10am to 1pm. Tickets can be booked via Quicket
Cost: From R290pp to R980pp. Book via Webtickets. 11am performances on Wednesday, 2 December, and Thursday, 3 December are R200pp. Discounts include: children u7, 50% off | Scholars, Students and u26, 15% off | Pensioners, 15% off | Friends of the Ballet, 35% off | Groups of 10+, 5% off | Groups of 20+, 10% off
When: Running from 27 November to 6 December 2026. Various times
Where: Lyric Theatre, Gold Reef City, Corner Of Northern Parkway &, Data Cres, Ormonde, Johannesburg South
Website: joburgballet.com
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 011 877 6898
Facebook: @JoburgBalletCompany
Instagram: @joburgballet
See more stage shows in Johannesburg
