A mesmerising blend of music and magic that captivates audiences.
Cirque Alice breathes new life into Lewis Carroll’s timeless tale, transforming Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland into a spellbinding mix of theatre, music, and acrobatics. Alice (played by Layla Schillert) delivers a fresh and spirited interpretation of the curious heroine we thought we knew. Through her journey, familiar characters like the Mad Hatter (Darren Partridge) and the Queen of Hearts (Sofia Rolao) spring vividly to life, their stories reimagined through daring circus feats and playful choreography.
You never quite know what to expect when you walk into a show like Cirque Alice. The posters promise a blend of circus and musical theatre, two worlds that don’t often collide, but what unfolds on stage is far beyond anything you could imagine. The very idea feels daring: a musical circus. It sounds ambitious, and it is, but against all odds, it works beautifully. From the moment the lights fade, you’re drawn into a world that feels equal parts dream and danger. It’s the familiar tale of Alice tumbling down the rabbit hole, retold through soaring vocals, breathtaking aerial acrobatics, and a visual spectacle that keeps you wide-eyed for nearly two hours.
A dazzling cascade of colours, shapes, and lights filled the arena, as if a dream were unfolding before your eyes. The White Rabbit (Darius Luke Thompson) darted across the stage, violin in hand, and played with such skill and intensity that it instantly draws you into the delightful chaos about to unfold. From that very first note, the musical propelled the audience straight into the whimsical, unpredictable world of Wonderland, setting the tone for an evening of wonder, excitement, and sheer theatrical magic.
And then, there was the music. Alice’s voice floated across the tent with a clarity and delicacy that was almost otherworldly, soft yet haunting, like a bell ringing underwater. Every note carried her confusion, her wonder, her fear, blending seamlessly into a single, soaring expression of emotion. Halfway through, I remember thinking that this must be what it feels like to tumble through the unknown and not care where you land, carried entirely by the moment.
Every trick and treat performed by the cast is a spectacle in itself, bold, inventive, and impossible to look away from. The Tweedles (Tamrat Ayalew and Tomas Alemu), reimagined as nimble and athletic doubles, captivate the crowd as one is tossed and twirled mid-air, caught only by his partner’s quick and confident footwork. Then come the four contortionists, bending and twisting into shapes that seem to defy anatomy, each movement more astonishing than the last. And so forth, each act was a highlight of the show, leaving the audience both awed and breathless.
The costumes truly deserve their own round of applause, and it is easy to see why. Every stitch, colour, and accessory has been chosen with remarkable care, creating a visual language that communicates character, mood, and story before a single word is spoken. The Queen of Hearts dominates the stage in a lavish, commanding red; the Mad Hatter, in contrast, bursts with quirky eccentricity, his outfit as unpredictable and playful as his antics; and then there is Alice, whose costume captures the essence of youthful curiosity and wonder, radiating innocence while allowing her to move freely through the fantastical world around her. It is a level of attention to detail that transforms every scene into a living illustration.
I can’t discredit the amount of work and dedication that clearly went into this production. Every act was spaced out perfectly; every transition felt intentional. For once, I found myself with nothing to nitpick about a musical. Everything flowed so naturally that even the more daring stunts felt like they belonged in that surreal, upside-down Wonderland.
A fair warning though: If you’re faint of heart or expecting, this show might be a little stressful. Some acts, especially the aerial stunts and acrobatics, play with gravity in ways that will have you gripping your seat. There were moments I found myself holding my breath, half in awe, half in worry for the performers who made it all look effortless. Still, that edge of fear only adds to the thrill. You realise how much trust, precision, and artistry go into each routine.
For me, this easily lands in my top three musicals of the year. It’s rare to find a production that captures both the heart and the imagination quite like Cirque Alice does. If you’ve never experienced a musical circus before, this is your chance. Go see it. Let yourself fall down the rabbit hole (you won’t regret it).
It’s hard to pick a favourite act because every scene left me spellbound. One moment you’re laughing at the Mad Hatter’s tea party chaos, and the next, you’re swept into an elegant, heart stopping aerial duet that feels almost too intimate to watch.
However, the duet aerial acrobatics scene, in particular, is something to look out for. It’s a breathtaking centrepiece of the production. The choreography, the lighting, the music, it all builds towards a surprise that leaves you speechless. It’s the kind of ending that makes you sit there long after the curtain call, still trying to process what you’ve just seen.
Cirque Alice is now playing at the Sands Theatre
