Adelaide, it’s time to follow the White Rabbit to Her Majesty’s Theatre for a feast of circus like no other! Cirque Alice has come to town, offering us a magical escape to Wonderland this January.
On opening night, Adelaide audiences were left utterly surprised and delighted at the sheer extravaganza that unfolded in the theatre. Cirque Alice commands you to sit in awe, gasp at the daring, and just enjoy the visual spectacle that unfolds.
From the producers of The Illusionists, Tim Lawson with Simon Painter as Creative Producer, and directors Ash Jacks and Kirsty Painter, have taken the story of Alice in Wonderland and used it as the vehicle in which to theme their new circus show. They have assembled a cast from around the world with talents that I can guarantee you have not witnessed before.
The show begins with a sense of familiarity with the narrative. The White Rabbit appears, yet it’s Darius Thompson on the violin, enticing our curiosity. Layla Schillert as Alice follows, softly exposing her stunning opera voice. Once she jumps “down the rabbit hole,” she is launched back out, and the showcase begins.
What Cirque Alice masters is using the zany characters from the original tale as concepts for each of the acts. The pace and transitions between them are perfectly timed, keeping the audience hooked and eagerly anticipating what will come next.
Without spoiling, the acrobatics and stunts in this show are standouts. When you think they couldn’t go higher, go faster, or somehow more advanced, they can, and they do.
The Tweedles are up first, known as the TT Boys: Tamrta Kuka and Thomas Keka Alemu. Their duet is the way to start the show, hyping up the crowd as they perform the most insanely precise acrobatic tricks between each other.
Likewise, the Ramadhani Brothers, Fadhili Rashidi and Ibrahim Mwaimise, are The Knights, who push the limits of human ability to the extreme. You truly have to see their head-to-head duet to believe it; the audience sat frozen in bated breath.
A crowd favourite is Paul Dabek as the Mad Matter, who brings a welcome pause to the action with his effortless comedy, magic tricks and shadow puppetry. With plenty of jokes just for the adults in the room, he commands that you keep up with him!
Schillert’s Alice anchors the show’s transitions by threading and coursing across the stage with command. Impressively boasting an effortless opera voice that soars, she truly gets her moment to shine as she belts Ave Maria for the finale.
Also enhancing the transitions between acts is Dane Bates’ choreography on the ensemble of dancers. With each appearance, they model costume designer Angela Aaron’s stunning Alice-inspired outfits, further contributing to the visual spectacle.
Up in the air, you are treated to a stunning aerial duet by The Flamingos, Emeline Goavec and Yoann Benhamou. This couple nailed both their stunts and performance quality – I was close enough to see the pure adoration and emotion on their faces during their performance, which was truly special.
The Contortion Quartet, composed of Enkhzaya Battogoo, Baigalmaa Chuluun, Doljinsuren Ganbold, and Dolgorsuren Ganbold, execute a hypnotic performance as The Caterpillar. Clad in stunning, glittering costumes, they move as a sinuous, interwoven contortion group.
In Act II, the Queen of Hearts makes a grand entrance, culminating in a mesmerising hand balancing act on canes. Munguntsatsrag Naranbaatar exudes graceful strength and flexibility, creating stunning visuals with her body centre stage.
Despite being in a theatre, the stage is arranged as a runway with a circular front, with patrons getting the option to sit on the stage cabaret-style. Hugo Mercier and Sarah Cleverley’s lighting design keeps the staging visually grand, mimicking the roof of a Big Top.
Soundtracking the show are the music arrangements by Martin Raabe-Olsen and Marius Christiansen. Their propulsive score is perfectly timed to each artist’s performance with key musical accents and beats.
Cirque Alice is a visually sumptuous reimagining through a circus lens. When the show concludes, you are ready to jump back down and relive it all over again! I guarantee that Cirque Alice is a delightful, transportive escape to Wonderland and the perfect outing for all ages.
Cirque Alice runs in Adelaide until 18 January at Her Majesty’s Theatre. 58 Grote Street Adelaide SA 5000.
It then runs in Canberra. See dates below.
Tickets: https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/Show.aspx?sh=CIRALICE26
Website: https://cirquealice.com/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/cirquealice/
Images supplied.
2026 Australian Tour Dates:
Sydney 24 December – 4 January, Coliseum Theatre
Adelaide 8 – 18 January, Her Majesty’s Theatre
Canberra 22 – 31 January, Canberra Theatre Centre
