You may not think that a cast including a pipe-smoking caterpillar and an irate queen would be a good fit for the ballet, but Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland proves that Carroll’s motley crew could not be more suited to the dancing stage. This genius adaptation by choreographer Christopher Wheeldon has been enrapturing audiences around the world since 2011, retaining the wit and charm of the original story with some seriously slick touches. An inventive visual design from Tony Award-winning designer Bob Crowley and a vibrant original score from the mind of Joby Talbot take the whole production to the next level – all without deviating too far from the classic tale’s core.
It’s not hard to see why the Australian Ballet’s particular iteration of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland has captured so many hearts (and garnered so much praise). The visuals alone are truly spectacular – as well as world-class dancing skills, you can expect to witness dancing playing cards, an eerily disembodied Cheshire Cat manipulated by puppeteers, and a slinky Caterpillar with 16 feet in bejewelled pointe shoes (naturally). The sheer technical feat of this production adds another layer to its popularity – after all, there’s a reason this ballet has sold out theatres around the world.
Ready to fall down the rabbit hole? You can nab tickets to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland through the Australian Ballet website.