Golden tickets, dazzling stage surprises and a generous dose of “Pure Imagination” have taken over The Theatre at Solaire.
We recently caught up with three talented stars bringing Roald Dahl’s beloved story to life: Michael Dalke as the wonderfully enigmatic Willy Wonka; Oliver Wong as the warm and hopeful Charlie Bucket; and Karylle Tatlonghari-Yuzon as the loving and resilient Mrs. Bucket.
Between playful stories, heartfelt reflections and a few behind-the-scenes revelations, the cast gave us plenty of reasons to catch Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The Musical before its Manila run ends.
Straight from Michael, Oliver and Karylle, here are five reasons this is THE show to see this season.
1. It’s a magical experience for the whole family
Willy Wonka’s factory is packed with eye-popping inventions, mischievous surprises and larger-than-life characters, but some of the show’s most touching moments happen inside the humble Bucket home.
Charlie grows up surrounded by warmth, love and unwavering support. His relationship with his mother and grandparents gives the musical its emotional heart and turns it into a story children, parents and grandparents can all enjoy.
Karylle points out that audiences have been especially moved by “that moment with the grandparents, with the kids, with the parents.”
“I just want you to also experience that,” She adds. “Give it to yourself. You deserve it.”
It’s a shared theatre experience that can leave the entire family smiling long after the curtain falls.
2. Its lessons come wrapped in chocolate and fun
Every golden-ticket winner enters the factory with a very distinct personality. Augustus Gloop can’t resist food, Violet Beauregarde refuses to stop chewing gum, Veruca Salt wants everything immediately and Mike Teavee can barely look away from a screen.
Their outrageous behavior leads to some of the musical’s funniest and most spectacular moments, but their adventures also carry lessons that audiences of all ages can take home.
Oliver hopes viewers leave thinking about messages such as “what goes around comes around” and “don’t judge a book by its cover.”
Beneath all the colorful chaos, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory offers a charming reminder that kindness, humility and a good heart can take you much further than greed or entitlement.
3. It’s unlike anything else onstage
From the moment Charlie discovers his golden ticket, the musical sweeps audiences into a strange, playful and completely unpredictable world.
There are extraordinary inventions, vibrant musical numbers, wonderfully eccentric characters and enough surprises to make longtime fans feel as though they’re entering the factory for the first time.
“I guarantee that you have not seen a show like this,” Michael says, describing it through “the laughter, the danger, the magic, the fun” and, of course, the music.
That lively mix of spectacle, humor and heart gives the production its own deliciously distinctive flavor.
4. It brings out your inner child
Golden tickets, unusual sweets and a glass elevator that travels in almost any direction are exciting at any age.
Karylle shares that adult audience members have reached out after the show to say, “You brought out the kid in me that I didn’t know was still there.”
Those messages capture one of the musical’s biggest charms. For a few hours, grown-ups can leave everyday worries outside the theatre and return to the excitement of discovering Willy Wonka’s world for the first time.
It’s joyful, nostalgic and just escapist enough to make you believe that something impossible is waiting behind the next factory door.
5. Live theatre always has a surprise in store
No two live performances are exactly the same. Sometimes, the moments that don’t go as planned become the ones everyone remembers.
Michael recalls a performance during the production’s Singapore run when the famous glass elevator didn’t work. Instead of stopping, he and Oliver continued the entire scene on a bare stage.
“It ended up being so special,” Michael shares. “It just kind of stripped everything away.”
Without the elaborate technical effects, the scene became quieter, more intimate and unexpectedly moving.
“If you’re really open to the magic of it all,” Karyllel adds, “it will give you a beautiful surprise.”
Catch ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ before it closes
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The Musical ends its Manila run on Sunday, July 26, 2026, at The Theatre at Solaire.
The remaining performances are:
Friday, July 24: 8:00 PM
Saturday, July 25: 3:00 PM and 8:00 PM
Sunday, July 26: 1:30 PM and 6:00 PM
Tickets are available through TicketWorld, the Solaire Box Office on Level 2 and other TicketWorld outlets.
The factory gates are about to close, so consider this your final invitation to claim a golden ticket and experience the laughter, music and magic for yourself.