Musical parody of Willy Wonka experience to debut at Edinburgh Fringe

Virgin Radio

4 Jun 2024, 11:24

The original event in Glasgow was shut down after frustrated attendees called the police.

Prepare for a golden ticket to laughter and musical mayhem as a parody of the infamous Willy’s Chocolate Experience is set to debut at the Edinburgh Fringe.

The original event, which turned into a real-life Charlie and the Chocolate Factory disaster in Glasgow, left attendees so frustrated they called the police.

Now, this debacle is getting a fresh, comedic twist with Willy’s Candy Spectacular: A Musical Parody.

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The Glasgow event, notorious for its bare warehouse and disgruntled actors dressed as Oompa Loompas, went viral after images spread worldwide.

US producer Richard Kraft has taken this fiasco and spun it into what promises to be a hilarious musical mockery, premiering at the Pleasance King Dome from August 9 to August 26.

Kraft, who is behind this creative endeavour, shared his excitement: “The process of creating a brand-new musical, which usually spans years, is being condensed into just a couple of months.”

The urgency and creativity behind this project are as zany as a Willy Wonka invention.

The first three tracks from the show have already been released, giving audiences a taste of the parody to come.

Actor John Stamos kicks things off with the opening number Willy’s Candy Spectacular, described as a 'post-apocalyptic opening number that traces the downfall of civilisation back to the disastrous event in Glasgow.'

Songwriters Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner, known for their flair for the dramatic, commented: “We love musicals with epic opening numbers. And we thought—what could be more epic than John Stamos singing about the end of humanity and linking our species’ demise to an underwhelming immersive experience in Scotland?”

Another standout track, Dreamed To Dare, features actor and yoga teacher Kirsty Paterson, who gained viral fame after photos surfaced of her as a forlorn Oompa Loompa at the original £35-a-ticket event in Glasgow.

Paterson’s involvement brings a full-circle moment, capturing the absurdity and charm of the parody.

The third song, Where Dreams Go To Fly, embodies the 'unbridled optimism of the impresario behind Willy’s Candy Spectacular.'

More tracks will be unveiled each Sunday leading up to the show’s world premiere in August, building anticipation like the release of Wonka Bars with golden tickets.

The producers have made it clear that this is a 'parody production' with no ties to Roald Dahl’s estate or the official adaptations of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

There’s also no affiliation with House of Illuminati, the organisation responsible for the original Glasgow event.

The Glasgow fiasco didn’t just stay in the headlines; it became a viral sensation and even got a mention in the House of Commons by Tory MP Penny Mordaunt.

The event’s notoriety has now paved the way for what could be one of the most talked-about shows at the Edinburgh Fringe.