Review: Alice in Wonderland at the New Vic Theatre*

[Ad-gifted] For me, the run-up to Christmas hasn’t officially begun until the curtain comes up on the New Vic Theatre’s magical annual festive show. And this year’s production, Alice in Wonderland, takes ‘magical’ to a whole new level at the Newcastle-under-Lyme venue.

I’ve been a fan of Lewis Carroll’s captivating tales – Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and the follow-up, Through the Looking-Glass – since I was a young girl. So, I was eager to re-enter Carroll’s peculiar, curious world, this time in the enchanting setting of the New Vic’s theatre-in-the-round.

The New Vic’s production of Alice in Wonderland marks the culmination of the theatre company’s 60th anniversary of theatre-making.

The show promises to take audiences on a journey with Alice down the rabbit hole, following the White Rabbit into a curious new world, filled with even curiouser characters. As she searches for a way home, Alice encounters strange and whimsical people: a disappearing Cheshire Cat with a grin wider than she’s ever seen, a Mad Hatter whose tea party never quite serves tea, and a bad-tempered Queen who is looking for her jam tarts.

This adaptation of the Lewis Carroll classic by New Vic Artistic Director, Theresa Heskins, is brought to life by the same creative team behind the theatre’s previous Christmas productions, such as Beauty and the Beast, Treasure Island, and The Snow Queen.

What I thought of the show

The New Vic has done it again. Alice in Wonderland is an absolute joy from start to finish.

It embodies the magic, mayhem, and nonsense of Carroll’s children’s stories, staying true to the spirit of the timeless tales.

But what makes the New Vic production extra special is how it brings something new and intriguing to the stories. Alice, for example, has a very different upbringing in the New Vic show to the privileged background of the character in the original tales.

This adaptation takes elements and characters from both Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and Through the Looking-Glass, to create an engaging show, with every scene enthralling and surprising.

In fact, I’ll be careful not to share any of the surprises (and there are a lot) for fear of taking away any of the magic you’ll experience if you see the production.

I was joined on the theatre trip by my husband, and our 12-year-old son and his friend – and we were all captivated.

The performances, set design, costumes, music, puppetry, and choreography are all exceptional. And the theatre pulls off an amazing feat with the incredible illusions that play a key role – and left us gasping in wonder and astonishment.

We loved seeing many of Carroll’s well-known characters brought to life. There’s Alice (Eleanor Fransch); the Mad Hatter (Danielle Bird); the White Rabbit (Peter Watts); the Red Queen (Purvi Parmar), and Tweedledum (Jimmy Chambers) and Tweedledee (Angelina Chudi). And remember to look out for the Cheshire Cat, and the fearsome Jabberwock.

So, if you’re looking for a festive family treat filled with adventure, magic, fun and surprises, head down the rabbit hole to the New Vic Theatre this Christmas.

How much do the tickets cost?

Tickets are priced from £22 to £30.
Concessions: £2 off.
Group discounts: £2 off for 10 or more.
Schools’ tickets are £14 plus free teacher’s ticket for every 10 pupil tickets bought.

How do I book tickets for Alice in Wonderland?

Call the box office on 01782 717962 or visit the New Vic Theatre’s website here.

When are the performances?

Alice in Wonderland runs from Friday 18 November 2022 to Saturday 28 January 2023. Evening shows are at 7.30pm, and there are daytime performances at 10.30am, 2.15pm and 3pm on selected days.

You can book for accessible performances (audio described, captioned, relaxed, signed, or socially distanced) on certain days. Visit the New Vic website to find out more.

Where is the New Vic Theatre?

New Vic Theatre
Etruria Road
Newcastle-under-Lyme
Staffordshire
ST5 0JG

Keeping you safe

To help you enjoy your visit, the New Vic has put measures in place to help all visitors feel as comfortable as possible:

• Please feel free to wear a face covering while at the New Vic, when walking around the venue and during the performance.
• They ask all guests to be mindful of fellow audience members when at the theatre, who may prefer to continue to keep a distance from other theatregoers while in their spaces.
• They have hand sanitiser stations positioned around the theatre, free to use by all. They are maintaining their high levels of cleanliness throughout the building, ensuring all spaces and contact surfaces are regularly sanitised.

Feeling unwell? If you, or a member of your party, are exhibiting symptoms of Covid-19 prior to your visit, they politely ask you do not attend the theatre. If this is the case, please speak to a member of their box office team who will be able to talk you through options to exchange your tickets.

About the New Vic Theatre

Founded in 1962, the New Vic is the producing theatre for Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire. With around eight major productions a year, its varied programme includes contemporary drama, new commissions, adaptations and classics. Recent productions have toured nationally and internationally, and have transferred to London and Manchester. The New Vic has developed extensive and award-winning community involvement. It works regionally, nationally and internationally through its education department and New Vic Borderlines, which aims to change the lives of the most disadvantaged members of the community. The New Vic is funded by Arts Council England, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, Staffordshire County Council and Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

By Colette Warbrook

You may also want to read this:

Review: Beauty and the Beast at the New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-Under-Lyme

Review: Coppelia – A Mystery at New Vic Theatre

Review: The Prince and the Pauper at the New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-under-Lyme

Review: The Wind In The Willows at the New Vic Theatre 

* We were provided with press tickets in exchange for a review. All opinions are our own.

Photo copyright: New Vic/Andrew Billington