Roald Dahl’s beloved tale of golden tickets and chocolate rivers is finally making its Southeast Asian debut, as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the Musical opens at Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands, for a strictly limited season from 19th May 2026. Presented by Base Entertainment Asia in association with Broadway International Group and Broadway Asia, the production brings Willy Wonka’s fantastical chocolate factory to life with eye-popping visuals, larger-than-life puppetry and illusions, and iconic songs from the classic 1971 film, including “Pure Imagination” and “I’ve Got a Golden Ticket” — alongside original music by Grammy® and Tony Award® winners Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.

Leading the cast is Daniel Plimpton, the New York-born triple threat actor, singer, and dancer who steps into Wonka’s iconic top hat and coat for his Asian debut. A veteran of Broadway National Tours including Newsies, The Book of Mormon, and Waitress, Plimpton brings a lifetime of musical theatre experience to one of the most recognisable roles in popular culture. We sat down with him to talk about finding his own Wonka, the emotional depth beneath the whimsy, and what Singapore audiences can expect when they step inside the chocolate factory. Read the interview in full below:

Bakchormeeboy: Willy Wonka is one of the most recognisable characters in musical theatre and popular culture. What was your first impression of him when you approached the role, and has your understanding of the character changed over the course of rehearsals?

Daniel Plimpton: You said it!! It’s such an honor to get to fill Willy Wonka’s gorgeous coat and fun shoes every night. It was daunting to think about playing the role because of how recognizable he is from the book and the movies. It is also wonderful to play the role as there is already a deep history of incredible actors making the role entirely their own. Gene Wilder, Johnny Depp, and Timothee Chalamet are all completely different, and I knew I was in for a fun challenge of digging deep to find my own interpretation. At first, I was worried that a lot of it would have to be about being weird and torturing the kids and being mean, but with time, I don’t think that’s true. I think Willy Wonka actually deeply loves people, but has a really complex relationship with trust and friends and family. So once that human side of him started to creep in, it became more natural for me to understand why he lashes out, and perhaps it’s not just innate within him. He’s been quite lonely and so it’s actually an incredible day for him to welcome folks to his factory. And there is a side to him that loves a little chaos, too. Same goes for Daniel…

Bakchormeeboy: This production explores a more layered and contemporary interpretation of Wonka. How would you describe your version of the character, and what aspects of him were most important for you to bring out on stage?

Daniel: Somewhat continuing from what I was saying before, I can really only be me up there- and things I love to play with are quirkiness, creativity, kindness, eccentricity, all deeply rooted in some form of honesty. It has to come from absolutely believing what I’m saying otherwise it turns into nonsense. I love that our show isn’t the same 2 nights in a row. It’s the kind of role where you could never stop exploring and learning new things about the character and oneself. What’s great about building a character in theatre is that no man is an island (I say “no island is a man” in the show as a Wonkaism), and both offstage I have the creative team to bounce ideas off, and onstage I have amazing actors to react to and play with. One thing our director Matt Lenz really instilled in me is Wonka’s deep longing for his legacy to be passed on. And that’s something I don’t think I could have really understood even a few years ago and something I’m starting to grapple with myself over time. That sense of making sure that the mark you leave on the world will be continued, and will be important, is something I hope the audience is able to see. 

Bakchormeeboy: Wonka balances whimsy, intelligence, unpredictability, and authority all at once. How do you find the emotional balance between those different sides of his personality in performance?

Daniel: I think that as an actor, you can only really play one thing at a time. Each moment has to be specific. What is super fun is as the run of a show goes on, it all starts to be more inside you and you start to realize you’re doing new things without even trying. I like to really stick with the overall arc of the show which is about making this test to see who is good enough and kind enough and smart enough to continue my work. As each Golden Ticket Winner presents their own quirks and challenges, that makes it easier to react accordingly from there. If I’m rooted in the mission, the branches of all those aspects can come out in really fun and funny and scary ways. 

Bakchormeeboy: Many audiences grow up with their own idea of Willy Wonka from previous film and stage adaptations, whether it’s the original Gene Wilder version, or Timothee Chalamet’s turn for younger audiences Did you do any particular research or preparation when developing your portrayal, and how did you make the role your own?

Daniel: I absolutely watched each version of those actor’s protrayals! And they all have something wonderful in them. I love Chalamet’s youthful optimism in the new prequel. I like how they explored the father relationship in the Depp picture. And I would say I’m definitely closest to Gene Wilder in my sensibilities. The only version I’ve never seen is the original of the New York production, which is what our new production is an extension of! Doing a musical is a completely different beast, so I didn’t really worry too much about making it my own because I knew that would happen naturally. In rehearsal, I just took it bit by bit, trusting that by opening there would be something there. I say that very casually when in reality I was spending every train ride in New York going over lines, and thinking about the scenes, and reviewing dance steps and staging, and practicing magic on the sides. It was an all immersive six weeks, and doing an 8 show week continues to be pretty all immersive!

Bakchormeeboy: Beneath the spectacle and fantasy, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory also explores ideas of morality, behaviour, and consequence. What do you think Wonka ultimately represents within the story and how did you choose to portray that onstage?

Daniel: I think that Wonka and the audience get to mirror each other in a way, and Wonka gets to represent the reader/viewer. The audience wants Charlie to win because he’s so pure and creative and kind, and Wonka starts to see this in Charlie more and more especially as act two goes on. Our Charlie plus our four other golden ticket winners are incredible at bringing out their character traits in both honest and insane ways, and we get to love Augustus, Veruca, Mike, and Violet while rooting for them to lose. A lot of my job is to trust the other actors to bring out qualities of greed and envy and ego and just react accordingly, as the audience does/would. Of course, I get to do this in insane ways onstage as each of the kid gets a pretty serious punishment for their actions. And then the audience gets to judge me and those actions. So it’s a pretty fun loop. 

Bakchormeeboy: This musical combines iconic songs audiences already know with new musical numbers written for the stage. How does the music help shape your interpretation of Wonka and his relationship with the factory and the events of the musical?

Daniel: The iconic numbers are truly such an honor to perform. Singing “Pure Imagination” every night for a thousand plus people?!?!?! It doesn’t get better than that! I think the music in the show fits really easily into the world of Wonka and the factory. Every time I sing, it doesn’t feel like there is a big transition from scene to song. And I love the new music written for the musical. I think I have four big songs in addition to the classics that are new, and each one is its own joy ride. I have the song at the end of Act 1 which is Broadway at its best- welcoming everyone to the factory and revealing myself to the public again. I have the number where I get to be my most Daniel as the kids are getting their first moments of the tour (think Donald O’Connor). Then I have a blast in a song with the Oompa Loompas, and finally get to close out the show with a beautiful duet with Charlie. Clearly I love this musical but all of these songs are so special!

Bakchormeeboy:Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is visually imaginative and technically ambitious, from the illusions and puppetry to the larger-than-life set pieces. What has it been like performing within such an immersive production environment?

Daniel: Yes! It is incredible visually!! I’m super impressed by our design team and crew with how it looks every night. I think it’s stunning and to be able to share this production all over the globe is crazy cool. And I’ve had to learn a whole new skill- magic!! I think it’s fun as an audience member both to sit back and think that the actors are making it look easy, but I also think that it’s fun when the show looks challenging and dangerous! And while nothing is actually dangerous, I have to take a lot of risks in the show each night to get it all to happen, and that’s an adrenaline pumper, for sure. 

Bakchormeeboy: The production is making its Southeast Asian debut in Singapore. What has the experience been like working with the international creative team and bringing the show to local audiences here?

Daniel: I couldn’t be more thrilled to be here in Singapore. I’ve been walking all over town, trying new foods, seeing incredible architecture, and preparing for our opening night. I’m even seeing my face on cabs all over the city which is a “pinch me” moment! That could never get old. I think the audience is going to love it here. I feel very blessed and humbled. I love performing and I love travel. I cannot believe that I get to do them both and come explore the most glorious places. Each place we go gets to open up all new possibilities of wonder. I sing about a lot of different things in my head during “pure imagination,” but often I’m thinking about sites and places I’ve seen, maybe even that day. This is an experience that is unique to any performing I’ve done before. I can’t wait for opening night!

Bakchormeeboy:Wonka is a character who can feel mysterious, intimidating, funny, and surprisingly emotional, and often all within the same scene. Are there any particular moments in the musical that challenged or surprised you as a performer?

Daniel: I think the final scene is really special. It’s down to just Wonka, Grandpa Joe, and Charlie. I won’t reveal too much but there are moments when Wonka is really triggered into old demons from his past, and then moments when for the first time in so many years, he can see his best self truly reflected in Charlie and let down his guard. There’s a moment when Charlie makes him laugh, and I think it’s the first time Wonka has laughed genuinely in years, and certainly during the play. There are so many special moments like this. I love playing this role because something surprises me every night. And there are a couple moments in the show that we have built to change every night, so that’s something super fun, to see what sorts of choices an audience will react to.

Bakchormeeboy: Finally, what do you hope audiences in Singapore take away from this production after stepping inside Wonka’s world?

Daniel: I hope that Singapore audiences really have a full artistic experience, no matter the generation. I want to kids to be enamored with Charlie, and our world of magic, and completely enrapt in the songs and story and music. I want adults to be charmed by the hilarity and wowed by the production value, maybe even nostalgic to when they read the book, and hopefully moved to think about their own legacies and creativity. Roald Dahl is a writer like no other in how specific and creative his worlds are, in a way that captures adults and children so completely. I was walking around today and I was chatting with a man who learned I was playing Willy Wonka (one of the cabs with my face had just driven by). He turned to me and said, meeting you is like meeting my childhood idol! This is how beloved this story is to people, and I can’t wait for Singapore audiences to come and immerse themselves in our show. Thanks for the thoughtful questions and thanks for reading. Can’t wait to see you at the show.

Photo Credit: Jeremy Daniel

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory plays from 19th May 2026 at the Sands Theatre at Marina Bay Sands. Tickets available here