Willy Wonka may be the world’s most inventive chocolatier and sweet-maker, but he’s not much of a rug-maker. So when he needed an edible rug for his West End stage show, he came to us.
OK, it wasn’t actually edible, but after applying a little bit of Wonka magic to our bespoke rug-making skills, our rug became the edible grass meadow for the Chocolate Room scene in the Sam Mendes musical, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
For a bit of rug magic, come to Rug Couture
The edible meadow was the idea of the show’s set designer, Mark Thompson. The theatre commissioned All Scene All Props to build the set, and they came to us for help with the grass. It was easy working with All Scene All Props because they work in a similar way to us, with project management, CAD, and a full sample service.
We recommended a wide shaggy art silk in a deep lime green. That would give the meadow an inviting grass-like look with added Wonka magic – a reflective shimmer to make the most of the glorious stage lighting.
Rave reviews for the set
The finished meadow consisted of six rugs laid over a contoured structure that created the mounds and hollows of the meadow. When the show opened, the critics loved the set; it later won the 2014 Olivier Award for Best Costume.
If you fancy a bit of edible grass – and a damn good night out – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is still running at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.
Better still, if you fancy a rug that’s every bit as magical as something Willy Wonka might create, we’re ready for your call. You can design your own online, call us on 0845 071 9303, or request a quotation via the bespoke rugs page on our website.
But sorry, no golden tickets hidden in any wrapped rugs.
