Jack Coghill, chocolatier and pastry chef at Jack ‘O’ Bryan’s Bar and Kitchen in Dunfermline, is supporting a new production of “Charlie and The Chocolate Factory”, which is running for five nights from 14 – 18 May at the Carnegie Hall, in Dunfermline.
Featuring lavish costumes sets, together with a live orchestra to bring the “world of pure imagination” to life, the production is being staged by the newly formed Playhouse Theatre Company, an amateur dramatics company and theatre school, conceived by two former London musical performers, Jack Blundell and Lucy Duffy.
The producers are delighted that their production of Roald Dahl’s classic tale of all things sweet is the Scottish amateur premiere.
The show by the Playhouse Theatre Company features a cast of children aged from seven-years-old and also adult performers. The company began auditioning for local people to get involved at the start of the year and have been rehearsing in The Kingsgate Hall in Dunfermline for the past few months.
Jack Blundell, who has fifteen years acting experience in London, appearing in TV, theatre, immersive shows and commercials, explained how he came to contact Dunfermline’s own Willy Wonka, Jack Coghill, who produces his own range of artisan handmade chocolates at Jack ‘O’ Bryan’s. Actor Jack said: “We had read all about Jack’s success in the media. Knowing he was based right here in Dunfermline, we reached out to him to see if he would like to support our production in some way – it certainly seemed the perfect fit.”
Jack Coghill said: “I was absolutely thrilled to hear that a production of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” was coming to Dunfermline. Who wouldn’t want to get involved in this classic show when you make chocolates and desserts for a living? I got straight on the phone to my chocolate supplier, global chocolate brand, Callebaut, to see if they too would get involved.
“Over the past few months, I have been described in the media as “Scotland’s answer to Willy Wonka” on more than one occasion. I‘ve been doing a lot of press on all my handmade desserts and chocolates. It seems it has not gone unnoticed, as just in the last week I have received an invitation to be a Guest Chef next month at the World Chocolate Masters 24/25, the only competition in the world solely dedicated to the creative talents of professionals with chocolate.
“I thought that if ever there was an event which is like being transported to a real life Chocolate Factory, with all kinds of incredible chocolate creations all around, then this it. I’ll be in my element.”
Jack regularly attends training courses with Callebaut at their Academy in Banbury to ensure that he stays abreast of the very latest techniques in creating and decorating the most impressive and inventive chocolates.
Delighted to hear about the production, and the positive associations for Jack and his hometown, Callebaut have now agreed to sponsor specially made up boxes of Jack’s handmade chocolates which he will donate to The Playhouse Theatre Company.
These will be won by audience members who, to mimic the excitement of the original tale, can discover a “golden ticket” in their programmes. Another golden ticket will provide a voucher for a meal at Jack ‘O’Bryan’s.
Jack sent his best wishes to The Playhouse Theatre with the show. He said: “We hope that winning a box of my chocolates, or the voucher for a meal, will add that extra element to attending.
“It was a fantastic idea to have the Golden Tickets which the Playhouse Theatre are making up specially.”
Lucy Duffy, who is originally from Kinross, and is a graduate of the prestigious Italia Conti Academy, said that the entire cast are “beyond excited to be staging the ultimate story for those who love chocolate in all its forms”.
She said: “Our thanks once again to Jack and Callebaut for their support! We can’t wait to entertain and delight everyone in a few days’ time. The Carnegie Hall is the most fantastic venue for the Show too.
“As our only dates in Scotland, we are hoping that the city gets behind our theatre company, which, although young, is growing fast in reputation – a bit like Chocolatier Jack himself.
“It’s just a pity we couldn’t have used him to make edible props.”
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” is a musical by the writers of Hairspray, and the exciting tale of five lucky golden ticket winners by Roald Dahl.
Tickets for the show are now available online at www.onfife.com or through Carnegie Hall Box office on 01383 602302.
www.playhousetheatrecompany.com
Dan Paton (left) who is playing Willy Wonka in the production is pictured with Jack Coghill,(right) Head Chef at Jack ‘O’ Bryan’s in Dunfermline.
