Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – Christopher Wheeldon’s Ballet Wonderland for The Royal Ballet
Watch Alice in Wonderland as you’ve never seen it before. In Christopher Wheeldon’s spectacular reimagining for The Royal Ballet, Lewis Carroll’s literary classic leaps off the page and onto the stage in a whirling kaleidoscope of color, wit, and world-class dance. Combining inventive choreography with Joby Talbot’s genre-blending score and Bob Crowley’s visually astonishing set and costume designs, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is an irresistible fusion of tradition and innovation—a modern classic for audiences of all ages.
A Whimsical Tale, Reimagined Through Dance
Carroll’s Alice has always courted contradiction: a children’s tale with surreal undercurrents, a nonsense story filled with logic puzzles, a playful satire laced with Victorian anxieties. Wheeldon, along with composer Joby Talbot and designer Bob Crowley, mines all these elements to create a ballet that is both enchantingly accessible and intellectually rich.
Premiering in 2011, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland marked the Royal Ballet’s first full-length commissioned narrative ballet in over two decades. It was an immediate success, hailed for its vivid theatricality and choreographic ingenuity. From the moment Alice falls down the rabbit hole, the production conjures a world that is at once recognizable and extraordinary, drawing on everything from classical ballet to tap, puppetry to projection.
Choreography That Defies Gravity and Convention
Wheeldon’s choreography is endlessly inventive, crafted to suit each character’s idiosyncrasies. Alice, danced with luminous clarity by Lauren Cuthbertson in the original cast, is a technically demanding role that rarely leaves the stage. Her movement is light and lyrical, but also urgent—she’s no passive dreamer, but an active agent in her surreal journey.
The Queen of Hearts, gleefully portrayed by Laura Morera, performs a delicious parody of The Sleeping Beauty’s Rose Adage—tottering balances, exaggerated flourishes, and all. Meanwhile, the Mad Hatter, in the tap-dancing hands (and feet) of Steven McRae, channels vaudeville showmanship and manic energy in equal measure.
The corps de ballet becomes a deck of cards, swirling and flipping in unison. A sinuous caterpillar slinks across the stage with hypnotic rhythm. And the Cheshire Cat appears as a disembodied puppet, assembled and reassembled before our eyes. Each moment is designed with theatrical precision and choreographic wit.
Joby Talbot’s Score: A Modern Soundworld for a Classic Story
Composer Joby Talbot infuses the ballet with a score that’s as eclectic as Wonderland itself. From sweeping symphonic passages that evoke the grandeur of 19th-century ballet to percussive, contemporary textures that suggest a more surreal sonic landscape, Talbot’s music is rich in mood and narrative.
Notably, the score includes thematic leitmotifs—musical signatures for characters like the White Rabbit or the Queen of Hearts—anchoring the fantasy in a coherent musical world. It’s a rare achievement: a ballet score that feels both familiar and thrillingly new.
Design That Delights the Senses
Crowley’s designs deserve a standing ovation of their own. Set pieces transition seamlessly from a Victorian drawing room to a kaleidoscopic forest, a grungy kitchen to a trippy tea party. Costumes nod to Carroll’s illustrations while adding modern flair—striped tights, oversized hats, and surreal silhouettes.
Special effects abound, from projection mapping to puppetry, including the giant Queen of Hearts head and the split-apart Cat. But spectacle never overwhelms story; every visual element supports the characters and the choreography. The result is a cohesive theatrical universe—surreal, slightly sinister, and utterly enchanting.
A Ballet That Balances Light and Shadow
While Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is undeniably a feast for the senses—and ideal for family viewing—it doesn't shy away from the darker hues of Carroll’s original. There’s menace in the kitchen scene, where chaos reigns and flying objects threaten Alice’s sanity. The tea party is unhinged and eerily exaggerated. Even the whimsical characters carry an undercurrent of unpredictability.
Wheeldon and team never underestimate their audience. They trust viewers—young and old—to navigate both delight and discomfort, much like Alice herself.
Why You Should Watch Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland on Marquee.tv
Watch ballet online and dive into this dazzling production on Marquee.tv, where The Royal Ballet’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is available in stunning high definition. Whether you’re discovering the work for the first time or returning for a rewatch, the digital format brings every detail—every pirouette, costume flourish, and orchestral swell—into sharp, intimate focus.
With star turns from Lauren Cuthbertson, Federico Bonelli, and Steven McRae, and under the musical direction of Koen Kessels, this production exemplifies the artistry that defines The Royal Ballet. It’s a thrilling introduction for newcomers and a triumphant reminder for ballet lovers of what live performance can achieve—even when streamed online.
Conclusion: A Wonderland Worth Visiting Again and Again
Christopher Wheeldon’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is that rarest of things: a ballet that is simultaneously accessible, sophisticated, playful, and profound. It showcases the expressive range of ballet as a storytelling medium while paying tribute to Carroll’s timeless tale. And it does so with artistry and flair.
Watch Alice in Wonderland today on Marquee.tv, and step into a world where curiosity leads the way, and every turn reveals another wonder.