Alice in Wonderland – review

Following its successful run in 2022, Alice in Wonderland returns to catapult you through a new wild yet wonderful journey as young Alice (Tatenda Matsvai) navigates through weird encounters on a speeding Victoria Line train, hoping to rekindle with her mum (Cheyenne Dasri) after a big argument.

The performance livened Brixton House bringing an array of colours and emotions to the already excited atmosphere. Directed and written by Jack Bradfield and created by Poltergeist, the creativity was truly spilling out of every joke and the actors beautifully portrayed their characters. Jack was intentional with his humour, which from the giggles (despite the Queen’s orders to keep it to a minimum) was enjoyed by all.

With a commanding stage presence, all the actors brought a unique depth to their portrayal of their characters. Gavin Dunn seamlessly embodied the roles, intentionally capturing the liveliness of his characters. Rosa Garland and Will Spence entertained the audience with a comical performance from beginning to end. Through subtle yet effective gestures and powerful vocal delivery, Tatenda Matsvai ensured the audience experienced each emotion felt by Alice and delivered her role with effectiveness. Cheyenne Dasri captivated the audience with her performance of her roles and showed the similarities between her characters. Despite her few words, Olivia Woolhouse truly had the audience laughing and kept them entertained.

The creativity of costume designer Debbie Duru beautifully captured the essence of all the characters. From the distinctive ears of the rabbit to the obnoxiously bedazzled crown that sat upon the Queen’s head, she truly encompassed the colour and creativity within a child’s mind.

To tie the production all together, both lyricist, Gerel Falconer and composer and sound designer, Alice Boyd, heightened the intensity of the performance with their inventive songs that are definitely ones to remember. They had the ability to capture the whole audience with interactive sing-a-longs, call and responses and the occasional announcements from the Queen herself, perfect for all ages.

Set and co-graphic designer, Shankho Chaudhuri, truly transformed the stage into the London Underground we know so well, that Alice had somehow found herself stuck in. The set was incredibly innovative, everything was uniquely designed for adaptability throughout the performance. The advertising on the walls around proudly announced the policies the Queen had demanded we followed on this journey with Alice. The stage was decorated with replicas of train seats and a lighting fixture above, which replicated a train roof.

Lighting Designer, Rajiv Pattani, decorated the roof of the train with lights that glitched with every movement of the cat. The intrusive personality of the cat was perfectly executed with lights that travelled around the whole stage and involved the audience at multiple points. The lights that beamed on either side of the train illuminated the stage, livening the atmosphere and heightening the anticipation.

This onstage adaptation of the novel transformed the original and made it relatable. It took the audience on a journey where every station counted.

Alice in Wonderland is the perfect family watch this Christmas!

Need to know: Alice in Wonderland plays at Brixton House until 4 Jan 2025 | See listing