An old favourite will receive a new twist when Alice in Wonderland hits the Dubbo stage next week.
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Lewis Carroll’s classic tale has been adapted into a new adventure for the stage. The story has been adapted by playwright Mary Anne Butler and stars Dubs Yunupingu as Alice.
Producer Michael Seiders, who also produced The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show, said the play was a really fun hour in the theatre.
“We just really wanted to give an Aussie feeling to it. We wanted audiences to relate to it. But at the same time it is still a girl who falls down a rabbit hole chasing a white rabbit,” he said.
Mr Seiders said he wanted to take a story that was well-known and had history and put a new stamp on it.
“It’s so old, it’s about 150 years old, and everyone has either seen the Disney version, or the book is their favourite book, so we had to be respectful of that. The Mad Hatter is there, the Chester Cat is there, the Queen of Hearts is there, but we wanted to make it very contemporary and fresh,” he said.
Alice is no longer the blonde girl with a British accent, Mr Seiders said. Ms Yunupingu is an Indigenous actor from from North East Arnhem Land. Blue eyes and blonde hair were never a prerequisite for the character of Alice, Mr Seiders said.
Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre manager Linda Christof said: “The story has a contemporary slant with Alice just wanting to play AFL but is hampered by the boys’ reactions, uncomfortable in a dress and having to deal with the frustrations of society’s gender expectations”.
“It’s a great message for young people about following your dreams and finding your voice to speak up,” she said.
The producer said Alice in Wonderland had been getting really great feedback.
“I think everyone will relate to it because it’s got a really strong message about finding yourself and being who you are. People just come out feeling really enlightened by it and feeling like they have hope,” he said.
Alice in Wonderland will be at the Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre on Friday, March 9. There will be three performances: 10.30am, 12.30pm and 6pm.
The performance is suitable for the whole family from seven-years-old and over. Parents, grandparents and everyone in between had been finding enjoyment in the show, Mr Seiders said.
Tickets are available at drtcc.com.au.