A fresh take on one of literature’s most famous stories is coming to Redcliffe, with Mousetrap Theatre presenting an original musical inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
Written, composed and directed by John Da Cruz, Alice (in Wonderland) is showing at The Sutton Centre until 16 August.
A Coming-of-Age Adventure in Wonderland
John said his adaptation follows a teenage Alice entering a Wonderland ruled by three competing powers as she navigates anxiety, identity and the pressures of growing up.
“This isn’t a retelling of the Disney film or a straightforward adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s books,” John said. “It’s an original musical that uses the familiar world of Wonderland to tell a new story.
“I’ve always loved the imagination of Lewis Carroll’s world, but I was interested in exploring what happens if Wonderland isn’t simply a whimsical place – what if it’s a reflection of a young person’s inner world?
“Rather than simply wandering through a series of strange encounters, she’s forced to confront different philosophies about how to live, represented by the competing rulers of Wonderland.
“It allowed me to take the familiar characters people know and reimagine them in ways that support a more cohesive story while still capturing the humour, eccentricity and wonder of the original.”
The production stars Gabriella Ayoub as Alice, alongside Santino Belmonte as the Knave of Hearts, Nathan Symons as the Mad Hatter and Leah Schramm as the Queen of Hearts.
John said making Alice a teenager raised the emotional stakes.
“Adolescence is a time when we’re all trying to figure out who we are, where we belong and what kind of adults we want to become,” he said.
“In this version, Wonderland becomes less about random nonsense and more about difficult choices. Alice encounters characters who each offer a different worldview, and throughout the story, she has to decide which voices deserve to be listened to.
“It’s ultimately a coming-of-age story about resilience, self-belief and learning that growing up doesn’t mean losing the best parts of yourself.”
While the musical tackles serious themes, John said audiences could also expect humour, adventure and memorable characters.
“Whether you’ve loved Alice in Wonderland since childhood or you’re coming to Wonderland for the first time, I hope audiences will discover something unexpected,” he said.
“Above all, it’s an ambitious, home-grown production created by passionate local artists, and I’m incredibly proud of what the cast and creative team have built together.”
Book your spots here or phone Karen on 0439 954 719 or pay at the door.
Alice (in Wonderland)
- 31 July – 16 August
- The Sutton Centre
- 157 Sutton Street, Redcliffe
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