Performed underground at the Vaults in Waterloo, this is a unique and immersive adaptation of Lewis Carroll's masterpiece, Jackie Bryans enjoys a trip down the rabbit hole
Originally performed in 2015 to mark the 150th anniversary of Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland creation, the much-lauded production returned to the vaults in April and runs until September. After reading rave reviews in 2015 I had been curious to experience the show myself and like Alice I had become curiouser and curiouser in the intervening period and was delighted to learn it had returned to London.
This is not a show for the claustrophobic, indeed I had initial concerns for myself when my group found ourselves in a circular room affecting our descent into the rabbit’s warren. In the heat of summer, the vaults can at times also prove extremely muggy and I was thankful that my programme could double as a fan. However, once you put such physical constraints to one side you can delight in the absolute nonsense that Carroll created for his readers and marvel at how the production’s creators have unleashed their imagination to turn Carroll’s creations into a form of reality.
The labyrinth of cleverly crafted rooms, stairs and corridors encourages the audience to explore much as if we were Alice ourselves. Early on, individuals must choose between ‘drink me’ or ‘eat me’ which marks the start of a series of methods to sub-divide the audience, enabling friends to enjoy different experiences before coming together for the Mad Hatter’s tea party. This is a clever vehicle, as many return to enjoy different encounters at a later date. It certainly provided plenty of fodder as my companion and I conversed over our respective journeys through Wonderland as we sipped cocktails in the bar afterwards.
Since War Horse hit the stage, puppetry has become relatively mainstream in the theatre and here it is utilised for creations such as the Cheshire Cat and the Jabberwocky. In terms of actors I enjoyed Tweedledee and Tweedledum’s erratic acrobatics and the Mock Turtle’s musical interlude. The White Rabbit kept in character throughout, but for me the Mad Hatter failed to make much of an impression during the tea party, which in itself I felt lacked lustre as I was anticipating something magnificent. The Queen of Hearts commands centre stage in the courtroom scene which marks the finale of the adventures with the trial of the Knave, who is alleged to have stolen tarts from the kitchen.
This is a clever production, but to really appreciate it and enjoy the experience you should have a good command of the English language and a rudimentary knowledge of the Alice stories. Tickets are not cheap, buying online there is an array of add-ons and unsure of how things would unfurl I opted for the premier tickets which included a drink during the tea party, a ‘Queen’s Edible Treat’, programme and after show cocktail. I would advise that you should save your money and select the standard ticket (as most people had) as this immersive experience does not necessitate participation with food and drink during the performance, nor do you need to refer to the programme as a guide. However, relaxing in the bar to soak-up the atmosphere and play a little croquet with the flamingo mallets helped extend the experience a little longer before eventually returning to the humdrum reality of life above ground.
- For more information and tickets see alice-underground.com. There is also a children’s version; ‘Adventures in Wonderland’ aimed at those aged 5-10 years.
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