From the moment one walks into the Coliseum Theatre there is an air of expectancy and excitement that something extraordinary is about to unfold and we are not disappointed. Cirque Alice, produced by Tim Lawson & Simon Painter, is a magnificent show of highly talented acrobats with incredible depths of skill along with music, singing, dancing and a most entertaining magician and joker, the Mad Hatter.
The show begins with the entry of the White Rabbit, Darius Thompson, whose violin playing is superb, then enters Alice, Layla Schillert, with a beautiful soprano voice that resonates throughout the theatre. The magical and colorful setting surrounds a smaller, central raised stage on which the acrobats perform their very varied and stunning feats. Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, the TT Boys Tamrata and Tomas, begin the acrobatics with one throwing & spinning the other on his feet at an almost terrifying speed. The Caterpillar consists of four contortionists Munkhchimeg Munkh-Erdene, Delgerbayar Tseveensuren, Baigalmaa Chuluun and Dolgorsuren Ganbold who intertwine & appear to reshape themselves.
The astounding acts just keep coming with interludes of magic and comedy with Paul Dabek, The Mad Hatter, gorgeously costumed dancers, Charlie Danilczack, Kaylee Smith, Lexie Calis, Gabriel Herrera and Lachlan Greenland, singing from Alice and violin from The White Rabbit…and of course a juggling act where one almost lost count of the balls in the air.
There is Daniel Schwarz amazing us on the aerial pole as the Snap Dragonfly, Viktor Hladchenko as The March Hare whirling in the Cyr Wheel, Munguntsatsrag Naranbaatar hand-balancing as The Queen of Hearts, duo aerial act Emilie Odette and Joann Jerome defying gravity as the Flying Flamingos, Estuart Mena Gonzales balancing precariously on the rola bola as The Dormouse, Brandon as Wonderland’s Juggler and Daniel Monni and Marina Sabettaas as the White King and Queen on roller blades spinning around the stage. The Ramadhani Brothers appear as the Red and White Knights with their head to head balancing act while climbing stairs and ladder leaving the audience, including myself, awestruck.
All this is made more exciting by the vast lighting rig and gorgeous set and stunning costumes as we are transported to Alice’s Wonderland. The soundtrack has some very familiar classics such as Flight of the Bumblebee and Ave Maria plus some modern remixes.
Creative Directors: Ash Jacks, Kirsty Painter, Choreographer: Dane Bates, Music Arrangements: Martin Raabe-Olsen and Marius Christiansen Costume Designer: Angela Aaron
Playing at the Coliseum Theatre, West HQ till January 4, 2026, this show is highly recommended as a wonderful mix of fantasy, talent and beauty, melded together to create a night you won’t forget.
Thanks Maggy! Sounds like a wonderful evening.