'I'm the Oompa Loompa from the Willy Wonka event - it was the worst acting job'

01 March 2024 , 12:09

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An image of Kirsty Paterson as an oompa loompa at the event has gone viral (Image: X.com)

An actor who played an Oompa Loompa at the hapless Willy Wonka Chocolate Experience in Glasgow called it the "worst job" she's ever had.

An image of Kirsty Paterson as the character at the "pitiful" gig went viral this week, and Kirsty has taken to TikTok to share her experience. She said the reaction to the event, which was supposed to be a fun day out for families, has been overwhelming. One picture of her was even compared to a mix of Breaking Bad and Willy Wonka.

Despite that, Kirsty sees the funny side and said: "I do see the humour in it, it is really funny. My friends and family are all laughing about it. I laugh with other actors about how bizarre this has gone."

Parents who attended the event had paid £35 for tickets hoping to give their children a magical experience, but instead found a bare warehouse and strange characters in cheap costumes.

The Mirror spoke to an actor this week, who narrowly dodged the disaster after spotting three "suspicious signs of something fishy" hours before the event started on February 24.

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Police were called to the venue by angered customers (Jenny Fogarty / SWNS)

Hundreds of refunds have been given after parents forked out at least £35 for a ticket (TMX / SWNS)

But Kirsty, who was tasked with entertaining the kids and giving each one a jelly bean and a quarter cup of lemonade, told Glasgow Live: "I think by that point everyone had walked off the set but I felt bad for the kids.

"All I tried to do was try to uplift everyone's spirits and just have a bit of fun with the kids. I think some of the people could vouch for me for that." The Glasgow event is now part of internet folklore as pictures and clips of the flop are shared far and wide.

Kirsty said some of the online posts have been tough to read, and she hoped that people realise the actors were just trying their best with what they were given.

The 30-year-old woman added: "The comments are savage, very, very savage and not very nice. I think people need to learn to be a bit more kind and realise that people are just human beings. I'm just a normal 30-year-old woman from Glasgow, who did a job that is the worst acting job I've ever done in my life."

Bradley Jolly