Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

I recently went to see the live screening of the Royal Ballet’s production of Christopher Wheeldon’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland at the Royal Opera House and I absolutely loved it! My boyfriend actually turned his nose up at the idea of going to the cinema to watch ballet but I think it’s a really great idea that’s affordable. Although you don’t get the same experience as dressing up and going to the magnificent Royal Opera House, you still get the exciting atmosphere off of the audience which you wouldn’t get from watching it on the television at home. I would very much recommend it!

The wonderland was brilliantly imagined by Christopher Wheeldon (choreographer) Joby Talbot (composer) and Bob Crowley (set and costume designer). There is something very fashionable at the moment about Alice in Wonderland, particularly tea parties, whether it be cupcake merchandise, teapot jewellery, baking television shows such as The Great British Bake Off, fashionable pottery such as Emma Bridgewater or just hosting your own Mad Hatter tea party. I thought the ballet was very “on trend” if you like so I’m just going to share with you just a few of my favourite moments because there are just too many to write about!

Set Design by Bob Crowley

Alice in wonderland visual world was created by Bob Crowley who ingeniously designed the inventive costumes and sets. Whilst still keeping the traditional Alice in Wonderland basic themes Crowley upgrades the basic designs in a 21^st century manner as well as using set to solve seemingly impossible design problems for a live ballet such as the shrinking and growing of Alice in act 1.



The belly dancing sensual Caterpillar



Performed by Eric Underwood

365 crystals encrusted onto the Caterpillar's ballet shoes

In the ballet the different character’s personalities are reflected through their dance style, which are then further complimented with costume and set. For example the Caterpillar, played by Eric Underwood, is cleverly portrayed through sensual belly dance and (to use the hip hop term) ‘the worm’ where he almost seduces and hypnotises Alice. He is one of the eight dancers who has custom-made shoes encrusted with 365 crystals. Read about it here.

The energetic and quirky Mad Tapper
played by Steven McRae

The Red Queen
played by Zenaida Yanowsky

The Red Queen, played by Zenaida Yanowsky, wore a hard, dominant costume on wheels where she rolled around the stage. This was complimented with strong, aggressive choreography and un-elegant movements in her arms which was a complete contrast to Alice’s delicate traditional and contemporary ballet dance.

The ingenious flamingo costumes were easily my favourite from the entire production

The Royal Ballet’s production of Christopher Wheeldon’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is truly magical, visually and technically excellent, and suitable for all ages. If you have never been a fan of ballet I would really recommend this one as it is modern, entertaining and exciting to watch – one that is hard to beat!

To find out more about the Royal Opera House's live screenings at your nearest cinema click here.