Michel Bega

By Michel Bega

Multimedia Editor


PICTURES: Joburg Ballet premieres Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Last week saw the opening of the world premiere of a full-length ballet based on Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Joburg Theatre.


Choreographed by Mario Gaglione, with an original music score composed by Mark Cheyne and Andrew Botha as design consultant, Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is the first classically based full-length ballet to be created for Joburg Ballet. 

Photographer Michel Bega attended the final dress rehearsal.

Monike Cristina performs as "Chocolate"
Monike Cristina performs as “Chocolate”. Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen
Ballet dancers watch from backstage
Ballet dancers watch from backstage. Award-winning composer and musical director Cheyne has created an original score performed live by the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra. Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen
Revil Yon performs as Willy Wonka
Revil Yon performs as Willy Wonka. Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen
Revil Yon and Monike Cristina
Revil Yon and Monike Cristina perform in a scene. Cheyne states: “Since this is a direct adaption of the famous book by Roald Dahl, all the music is entirely original, orchestrated in the style of a traditional ballet. Fantasy is an integral part of traditional ballet, and this a ‘fantastical’ story, with larger-than-life characters and a plot full of marvels, mystery, magic and, of course, copious amounts of chocolate.” Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen
Albertus Dreyer performs as Grandpa Joe
Albertus Dreyer performs as Grandpa Joe. Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen
Dancers seen from backstage
Dancers seen from backstage. The score took 9 months to compose. Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen
Tumelo Lekana performs as Mike Teavee
Tumelo Lekana performs as Mike Teavee. Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen
Members of the cast
Members of the cast perform during a scene. Onstage partners for the season of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory includes dancers of WGRUV Dance Company, the Joburg Ballet Academy and the Joburg Ballet School. Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen
Ivan Domiciano performs as Augustus Gloop
Ivan Domiciano performs as Augustus Gloop. Other characters brought to life in the ballet include Veruca Salt and Violet Beauregarde. Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen
Jayden Samuels performs as Charlie with Monike Cristina
Jayden Samuels performs as Charlie with Monike Cristina as chocolate. The show runs till 13 October. Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen
A ballet dancer is seen from backstage while rehearsing
A ballet dancer is seen from backstage while rehearsing. Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

PICTURES: Inside the shut Joburg Library

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