The Centre Stage Company in Haverhill receives vital support from Edmolift for its next show, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
The generosity shown by businesses in helping a new production by an amateur theatrical group is ensuring - quite literally - that it can get off the ground.
The Centre Stage Company’s next show at Haverhill Arts Centre will be a production of the classic and much-loved Roald Dahl story, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
And one particular scene, in which Charlie and the chocolate factory owner Willy Wonka rise up in the great glass elevator, has been made possible thanks to the help of lift experts, Steeple Bumpstead-based Edmolift UK Limited.
The Blois Meadow company is providing a scissor lift platform that will make the glass elevator made for the set by the drama group rise up above the stage.
Darren Papani, owner of Edmolift, explained more: “They were looking for someone that could supply this lifting mechanism.
“I went and met with Vicky (Victoria Harvey) and went to the arts centre just to see what needs to be done and we happened to have the right product.
“To hire something like this would be a couple of grand so we are the factory, they are coming to us at source. We are a local company just helping out. I thought it would be a nice thing for us to do.
“It would be nice for us to get involved in more things like this.”
Edmolift is no stranger to supplying equipment for theatre productions, festivals and marquee sports events.
Darren added: “This lift is the same type as used at The Royal Edinburgh Tattoo, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in the West End, The Paris Olympics and various live concerts, including Robbie Williams.
“Whilst Edmolift is well known for supplying scissor lift platforms for industrial and logistics applications they also supply live event and theatre rigging specialists to lift all manner of loads including scenery, big screens and pop stars.”
Victoria Harvey, who is directing the musical, said: “It is the biggest show we have undertaken for a long time and it has been so incredible how we have managed to get local companies involved.
“We are so incredibly grateful for the local support we’ve had.
“Tackling a show this big has been a significant undertaking but we could not have done it without them.
“Their generosity will go a long way and the whole team will be forever grateful for the contributions they have made to this incredible production.”
Centre Stage is also working with other companies in Haverhill or nearby on elements of the show.
It has created a strong link with Huws Gray, which has supplied wood to build the set and GCB Cocoa in Glemsford, which the cast and crew toured to see how chocolate is produced.
Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, in which the part of Charlie Bucket is taken by Alex Griffiths and Willy Wonka is being played by Steve Murray, will be running at Haverhill Arts Centre from Wednesday, October 23 to Saturday 26.
To buy tickets call 01440 714140 or go to haverhillartscentre.co.uk.
