THEATRE goers will have the chance to get their hands on a special golden ticket this week thanks to the help of Dunfermline's own answer to Willy Wonka.
Jack Coghill, head chef, chocolatier and pastry chef at Jack 'O' Bryan's in Dunfermline, is helping make sure a new amateur production of Charlie & the Chocolate Factory is a sweet success at the Carnegie Hall this week by providing special prizes for lucky guests.
The show – which will feature lavish costumes and sets and boast a live orchestra to bring the “world of pure imagination” to life – is being staged by the newly formed Playhouse Theatre Company set up by two former London musical performers, Jack Blundell and Lucy Duffy.
The team were delighted to get chef Jack involved.
“We had read all about Jack’s success in the media,” explained Jack. “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!”
READ MORE: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory show to premiere at Carnegie Hall
Jack Coghill said he 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," he said.
“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.
“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."
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 that 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 added: “We hope that winning a box of my chocolates, or the voucher for a meal, will add that extra element to attending.”
The production, which is the Scottish Amateur premiere of this Roald Dahl show, will feature a cast of children aged from seven years old, plus adult performers.
Running for five nights from Tuesday, May 14 until Saturday, tickets are available online at www.onfife.com or through the Carnegie Hall Box office on 01383 602302.
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