A beloved tale as quirky in narrative as it is in character, Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland asks for the reader to let go of current stresses and immerse oneself in the fantastical. The author’s invention of words, must notably the nonsensical nature of the poem Jabberwocky, an invitation to marvel in the joy of language. Offering a 21st century, metropolitan take on the classic, Jack Bradfield and Poltergeist Theatre present Alice in Wonderland, the perfect festive end to the year, suitable for families and fans of the take a like.
Courtesy of Helen Murray.
Aboard the Victoria Line’s final destination, Brixton, 11 year old Alice (Nkhanise Phiri) finds her world very quickly turned upside down when she’s suddenly separated from her mother (Toyin Ayedun-Alase). As the train doors abruptly shut, here, Alice begins her pursuit to return home and reunite with family. Along the way, meeting a host of very familiar characters.
Shankho Chaudhuri’s meticulous attention to detail brings an air of familiarity, particularly to regular commuters as the blue seated, advertisement filled carriages of the Victoria Line are mimicked, forming the cast’s playful catwalk. Bradfield’s script wonderfully plays on the rich history of the underground – train station names humourously dotted about the evening to produce quick laughs, playing on Carroll’s own play and invention of language.
Poltergeist Theatre instinctively understand the task of keeping up the show’s momentum and humour throughout, delivering 2 hours of pure wonder and silliness. Phiri’s rebellious Alice, Ayedun-Alase’s earthy mum/ defiant Queen of the Line/ inquisitive Chatter and Khai Shaw’s sheepish Rabbit/charismatic Pigeon/ guarded Hammersmith inventively cultivate a world of characters that are vivid and engaging. Rosa Garland’s steady Tortoise/simple Dum/ anarchic Rat/ obedient District and Will Spence’s mischievous Cat/ simple Dee/ enigmatic Nose and obedient Circle further draw us into this metaphysical world of possibilities. A hearty, whimsical, eventful production connected to its local community, featuring original raps that connect us also with what musically dominates right now, Alice in Wonderland is fun, present and doesn’t at all take itself to seriously!
Written by Lucy Basaba.
Alice in Wonderland is currently showing at Brixton House until Saturday 31st December 2022. To find out more about the production, visit here…
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