RBO: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (Ballet)

At a garden party on a sunny afternoon, Alice is surprised to see her parents’ friend Lewis Carroll transform into a white rabbit. When she follows him down a rabbit hole, events become curiouser and curiouser…As Alice journeys through Wonderland, she encounters countless strange creatures. She’s swept off her feet by the charming Knave of Hearts, who’s on the run for stealing the tarts. Confusion piles upon confusion. Then Alice wakes with a start. Was it all a daydream?

Christopher Wheeldon’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland burst onto the stage in 2011 in an explosion of colour, stage magic and inventive, sophisticated choreography. Joby Talbot’s score combines contemporary soundworlds with sweeping melodies that gesture to ballet scores of the 19th century. Bob Crowley’s wildly imaginative, eye-popping designs draw on everything from puppetry to projections to make Wonderland wonderfully real. The result shows The Royal Ballet at its best, bringing together world-class dance with enchanting family entertainment and ingenious music and design.

Cast:

Alice FRANCESCA HAYWARD

Jack/The Knave of Hearts WILLIAM BRACEWELL

Lewis Carroll/The White Rabbit JAMES HAY

Mother/The Queen of Hearts LAUREN CUTHBERTSON

Father/The King of Hearts BENNET GARTSIDE

Magician/The Mad Hatter STEVEN MCRAE

Rajah/ The Caterpillar NICOL EDMONDS

The Duchess GARY AVIS

Creatives:

Choreography CHRISTOPHER WHEELDON

Music JOBY TALBOT

Conductor KOEN KESSELS

Orchestration CHRISTOPHER AUSTIN, JOBY TALBOT

Designer BOB CROWLEY

Scenario NICHOLAS WRIGHT

Lighting Designer NATASHA KATZ

Projection Designers JON DRISCOLL, GEMMA CARRINGTON

Original Sound Designer ANDREW BRUCE