Joburg Theatre, 4 to 13 October
*Performance to recorded soundtrack
Choreographed by Mario Gaglione to music 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 created for Joburg Ballet.
Joburg Ballet’s Mario Gaglione has already made his mark as an imaginative and inventive choreographer, qualities spectacularly well-suited to breathing balletic life into Roald Dahl’s immortal story of Charlie’s adventures in Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory.
Mario Gaglione says: “Creating and choreographing this ballet feels like finding my own golden ticket, a rare chance to share something magical! I hope it becomes a golden moment for every child – and grown-up! – in the audience, filling them with joy and wonder they'll never forget.”
In his search for music, Mario Gaglione turned to award-winning composer and musical director Mark Cheyne to create an original score which will be performed live by the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra.
“The story is iconic and universally loved, ” says composer Mark Cheyne. “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. ”
In the leading roles of Willy Wonka and Chocolate, audiences can look forward to Revil Yon and Monike Cristina, Ruan Galdino and Tammy Higgins, Ivan Domiciano and Ryoko Yagyu, and Bruno Miranda and Cristina Nakos. Charlie will be danced by Jayden Samuels, previously a student of the Joburg Ballet School and now at the National School of the Arts.
Joburg Ballet is delighted to welcome as onstage partners for Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory WGRUV Dance Company, Joburg Ballet Academy and Joburg Ballet School.
An Open Day will be held at the Joburg Ballet Studios on Saturday 21 September from 10h00 to 13h00, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the creative and rehearsal process. For Open Day bookings email futhi@joburgballet.com or call 011-877 6898.
Joburg Ballet is grateful for support from the South African Ballet Theatre Trust and the Friends of the Ballet towards the production of the ballet.
The ballet of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is presented in association with the Roald Dahl Story Company.
Monike Cristina as Chocolate 
Revil Yon as Willy Wonka 
Mario Gaglione
Italian-born Mario Gaglione studied dance in Italy and the UK. He danced with Tulsa Ballet II, the Biennale of Venice, Ballet Ireland, New English Ballet Theatre and the Grand Theatre of Łódź before joining Joburg Ballet as a soloist in 2020.
He has choreographed The Silent Wanderer, One Last Note and The Game for Joburg Ballet; Piazze Invisibili, Inferno, Pasolini 100 and A Ballet Tribute to Puccini in association with the Embassy of Italy and the Italian Cultural Institute (SA); The Sunflower’s Tale and Cinderella for Jozi Youth Dance; Listen for WGRUV; Silver Lining for the Joburg Ballet Academy; and Resilio for The Royal Ballet’s 2023 International Draft Works. He is currently working on his first full-length ballet, Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, for Joburg Ballet.
Click here to view Mario Gaglione’s full biography
Mark Cheyne
Award-winning composer and musical director Mark Cheyne enjoys a career at the top of the South African classical music world. He began his career in 1996 with Michael Hankinson and together they produced hit concerts and theatre shows, including Queen at the Ballet, The Elvis Las Vegas Extravaganza, Girltalk, In Concert - The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Joburg Pops and many more.
Working independently since 2005, he was the main composer of the full-length ballet, The Gold Rhino of Mapungubwe, premiered at the South African State Theatre in 2023, produced by Mzansi Ballet. He composed the musical, Third World Express, which premiered at the Joburg Theatre in 2022, a collaboration with Gregory Maqoma.
One of the most prolific music arrangers in SA with over 400 arrangements scored for orchestra, Mark Cheyne is a sought-after musical director. Productions include RMB Starlight Classics, Vodacom CEO Awards, Joy of Jazz (Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra), Skouspel Onder die Sterre, KKNK Huisgenoot Pops, The 12 Days of Christmas (SABC 2), Viva! Queen, Starlight Pop Opera (KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra) and many others.
Five albums produced by Mark Cheyne have been nominated for SA music awards. With executive producer Dr Reuel J. Khoza, he produced eight albums of the music of legendary Tsonga choral composer SJ Khosa. He also composes soundtracks for TV and radio commercials as well as corporate events and is the recipient of a Loerie Craft Award (Music Composition).