Alice's Adventures Underground

A whirlwind of a theatre experience with a fantastic atmosphere

Alice's Adventures Underground

As my first immersive theatre experience, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from Alice's Adventures Underground, but I was definitely excited to try a new style of theatre. The experience, which takes place at The Vaults in Waterloo, begins from the moment you walk into the Wonderland Bar, a beautifully designed space in a slightly eccentric style where you can buy fantastical cocktails or enjoy a game of flamingo croquet while you wait for your performance time. It sets the tone perfectly, and is also the perfect environment to return to when you finish.

The performance itself is a work of art, with sets and props that bring to life Carroll's visions superbly. The attention to detail in each room is incredible, and being able to explore each place you arrive in adds a level of excitement rarely found in standard theatre, as you have a freedom to touch and examine that feels almost sacrilegious. The costumes and make-up are fantastic - moreso when you realise that many actors play multiple characters and undergo complete costume and make-up changes throughout. I absolutely loved the use of puppets, which allowed characters such as the Caterpillar and the Cheshire Cat to be brought to life in a clever and interesting way, aided by the use of acrobats which added a beautiful physical dimension to the performances.

I also absolutely adore the fact that you could go to Alice's Adventures Underground multiple times and have a completely different experience each time. This is because each audience gets divided up into four groups (one for each card suit) and goes on to do and see very different things, before all coming back together for the final scene. Occasionally you can hear other groups, which can be a bit distracting, but overall the timing and fluidity of the entire endeavour is impeccable, and quite frankly awe-inspiring.

Unfortunately, not all of the acting lived up to the brilliance of the sets and costumes. Some characters, such as Alice, the March Hare and the Dormouse, were excellent; others were less believable. The White Rabbit, while very earnest, seemed occasionally too over-dramatic, and Tweedledee and Tweedledum's characters appeared forced and irritating. The individual playing cards who led each group around, however, were very good, and did a great job of working with the audience they had to ensure that everyone felt wholly a part of Wonderland. I would definitely still recommend the show, as I feel the odd lapse in acting does not detract significantly from the experience as a whole.

My advice to anyone who does go to see this show would be this: be prepared to get completely into it. The more you involve yourself and participate, the more enjoyable and exciting it is, so let yourself get caught up in the adventure and enjoy everything Alice's Adventures Underground has to offer!

Author

Sam Nead

Sam Nead Contributor

I am a 22 year old student who loves reading, writing and all things theatre-related. I am studying Liberal Arts and Natural Sciences at Birmingham University and I'm trying to write a novel, but not doing very well at it!

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1 Comments

  • Luke Taylor

    On 5 May 2017, 09:59 Luke Taylor Contributor commented:

    Sounds like a great show! Sometimes you need to think outside the box when it comes to making a play.

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