Follow the white rabbit to Wonderland

Starring Coronation Street favourite Wendi Peters as The Queen of Hearts, Broadway leading lady Kerry Ellis as Alice, and West End star Dave Willets as the White Rabbit, Wonderland puts a modern spin on the Lewis Carroll classics ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and ‘Alice Through the Looking Glass’.

Dave Willets, who is stepping into the furry shoes of Alice’s bunny guide, explains that the show, which includes music by Frank Wildhorn, will delight fans of all ages.

“We have joined the stories of Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass but we have been clever,” he said.

“Alice is a 40-year-old woman, she’s been divorced for five years, has a teenage daughter and has just had her car stolen. She feels that the whole world is against her.

“My part is that when I hear people say ‘I don’t want to live in the real world anymore’ I come up, from a lift shaft rather than a rabbit hole and take Alice back down to Wonderland.

“The story is about her finding herself and finding her confidence. But more than that. She has to wave Wonderland because the Mad Hatter has become tyrannical and is threatening to take over from the Queen of Hearts and cut of everyone’s head.”

The older age of Alice allows the cast to include sweeping musical numbers and rather than being a childhood story, it becomes a show that appeals to everyone, from eight to eighty.

“It’s funny,” continued Dave. “It’s got all the big songs, all the characters, and its got moments that will make you say ‘awwwww’.”

Wonderland will be at the Grand Opera House in Belfast from Monday March 27 until Saturday April at 7.30pm, with matinees at 2.30pm on Thursday and Saturday,

Tickets, priced from £18.75, are on sale now from the Grand Opera House Box Office on 9024 1919 or online at www.goh.co.uk.