Not all immersive experiences are successful, of course, but that of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory turned out to be… a real disaster.
In Glasgow, Scotland, House of Illuminati this week invited parents and children to pass through the doors of the company imagined by Roald Dahl in a children’s book published in 1964. Gene Wilder (in 1971), Johnny Depp (in 2005) and Timothée Chalamet (2023) took on the role of the generous and eccentric chocolatier in the cinema.
Hundreds of people bought tickets at an average cost of 46 euros each ($65) with the hope of enjoying themselves once there… But nothing happened as planned.
In a sad gray room, plastic tables, a few bags of treats and non-existent decor awaited them. Disappointed children cried, furious parents called the police, actors apologized, the company promised to refund all visitors… and the event quickly became a social media staple.