A Peek Behind The Curtain of CIRQUE ALICE

It’s no coincidence that CIRQUE ALICE lands squarely in the Easter school holidays. From 10 to 22 April 2025, families, theatre aficionados, and curious newcomers alike will be making a pilgrimage to QPAC’s Concert Hall to see whether the show lives up to its buzz. The timing is perfect: Easter breaks often invite a yearning for collective escapism—why not dive straight into Lewis Carroll’s rabbit hole?

Since QPAC first opened its doors 40 years ago, it has worked tirelessly to establish Brisbane as a global arts hub. Recent data from Tourism and Events Queensland revealed a nearly 20% increase in interstate visitors to Brisbane for major cultural festivals. CIRQUE ALICE promises to keep that momentum going. Not only is it co-presented by QPAC, but it’s also part of the QPAC 40 program—meaning it carries the weighty legacy of four decades of cutting-edge performances. If you’re searching for something that captures the spirit of Queensland’s cultural renaissance, you’ve found it.

Reimagining Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland

At the helm of this fantastical voyage are creative powerhouses Tim Lawson of TML Enterprises and Simon Painter of Painter Productions, known collectively for producing smash hits like THE ILLUSIONISTS, LE NOIR, and CIRCUS 1903. Their track record speaks volumes: these productions have toppled box-office records in more than 450 cities worldwide. Now, they’re joining forces once again to reimagine Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland with a circus twist.

But forget everything you know about your childhood reading of Wonderland. In CIRQUE ALICE, we’re given the Lewis Carroll classic, but not as a cosy tea party. Instead, it’s a realm of gravity-defying Icarian games and glittering illusions. This fresh spin invites audiences to question how far they’re willing to let their imaginations run wild. One glance at the eclectic cast, and it becomes clear that the show aims to tease, dazzle, and startle the senses in ways the original novel could only hint at.

Meet The Cast

The production’s leading lady is none other than Australian soprano Layla Schillert, famed for her impressive vocals on Australian Idol. The role of Alice requires not just musical prowess but a flair for the whimsical. It’s a tall order. And yet, everyone in the industry seems confident that Schillert’s dreamy vocals and bright stage presence will be the perfect match for the headstrong heroine who’s perpetually chasing rabbits—literal or metaphorical.

Meanwhile, the eccentric, self-styled host of Wonderland is Jeff Hobson, renowned as one of the most in-demand comedic magicians in the world. If you’ve ever caught THE ILLUSIONISTS, you’ll recognise him. He’s the one who can make you laugh until your sides ache while deftly performing illusions that leave your jaw on the floor. Hobson’s performance as The Mad Hatter marks his first return to Australian soil in ten years. You can bet the comedic bar will be set high.

It’s not just about the headliners, though. Acrobatic marvels include the Cirque du Soleil scene-stealers The TT Boys (here reincarnated as Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum) and The Ramadhani Brothers, best known for their stirring performances on Australia’s Got Talent. Transforming into the Red and White Knights, they’ll add a regal swirl of athleticism to the mix. Then there’s aerial specialist Oleg Tatarynov—also spotted on Australia’s Got Talent—who becomes a mesmerising Butterfly suspended high above the crowd. Add in Alexandre Lane performing the Cyr wheel as The March Hare, Maria Sarach mastering a hand-balancing act as The Queen of Hearts, and an ensemble of local dancers choreographed by the award-winning Dane Bates, and you can already sense that the stage is teeming with global talent.

The Best International Acrobats On One Stage

According to Creative Producer Simon Painter, CIRQUE ALICE boasts “the best cast of international acrobats to ever perform in Australia.” It’s a bold claim, but it’s not without precedent. Painter has a long-standing reputation for sourcing the most jaw-dropping acts from every corner of the circus world. Take The TT Boys, for instance: their chosen discipline, known as Icarian Games, involves acrobatics so fast and dynamic it appears they’ve defied the laws of physics. And with Maria Sarach portraying The Queen of Hearts via a hand-balancing act, the show merges flamboyant theatrics with feats of raw physical strength and dexterity.

But the surprises don’t stop there: the rola bola artistry of William Estuart Mena Gonzales as The Dormouse will test the boundaries of balance, while duo aerialists Maria Romanenko and Alexander Vakar will transform into The Flamingos—proving that, in Wonderland, even a quiet moment can teeter on the brink of the impossible. And if you thought roller-skating was straightforward, wait until you see Leandro Zeferino and Anastasiia Vashenko rocket across the stage as the roller-skating Royals. Then you have the extraordinary Mongolian contortionists Tsetseglen Odgerel, Bayarmaa Ganbat, Baigalmaa Chuluun, and Dolgorsuren Ganbold shapeshifting into The Caterpillar, twisting their bodies into forms that make you doubt your own eyes.

The Music That Brings Wonderland To Life

A show with such an eclectic cast demands an equally remarkable soundtrack. Norwegian composers Martin Raabe-Olsen and Marius Christiansen took on the daunting task of creating an all-new musical tapestry for CIRQUE ALICE, injecting classical motifs with fresh, modern flair. Expect remixes of beloved pieces like Flight of the Bumblebee, the Flower Duet, and Für Elise—but not in a way you’d anticipate. These reinterpretations are designed to heighten the sense of whimsy and urgency that’s synonymous with Wonderland.

One detail sure to thrill music buffs is the live accompaniment by violinist Darius Thompson, fresh from London’s West End. And in a move that sets this production apart from other cirque-style shows, the music will incorporate QPAC’s majestic Klais Grand Organ in inventive ways never before attempted. Industry insiders have suggested the organ’s haunting resonance could be used to evoke the darker edges of Wonderland, adding a moody counterpoint to the circus spectacle. It’s a testament to the show’s grand ambition that even the building itself is roped into the performance, ensuring that no corner of the Concert Hall remains untouched by Wonderland’s magic.

Costumes, Puppets, And Pure Imagination

No adaptation of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland would be complete without eye-popping costuming, and Angela Aaron is the creative mind behind every stitch, ruffle, and flourish you’ll see on stage. Beyond that, the Olivier® Award-winning Unit 9 is contributing puppets, meaning you can anticipate some larger-than-life characters springing to life in astonishing ways. Sometimes a single puppet can steal the entire show—just think back to that big, grinning feline from other productions of Alice-inspired stories. Here, the possibilities are even more expansive.

Under the watchful eyes of Creative Directors Ash Jacks and Kirsty Painter, each visual element is meant to dovetail seamlessly with the acrobatic feats. Don’t be surprised if a puppet waltzes through a contortionists’ routine or an elaborate costume piece transforms mid-act. This is Wonderland after all: the boundary between the real and the surreal is forever blurred.

The Organ’s Spotlight

While the acrobatics, illusions, and comedic magic might be the primary draw, there’s an element hidden in plain sight that might just steal the show: QPAC’s famed Klais Grand Organ. Typically reserved for more classical concerts and recitals, the organ isn’t often pressed into service for contemporary circus productions. Yet here it is, rumoured to be blasting out everything from twisted Disney-like jingles to ominous strains reminiscent of a Victorian horror film. The creative team wanted to capture the sense of stepping into an alternate reality, and few things can rival the raw, cathedral-like power of an organ to evoke awe. Hearing a frantic, reimagined version of Flight of the Bumblebee on those massive pipes is certain to make the hairs on the back of your neck dance.

By diving down this rabbit hole, you’ll leave with an unshakeable reminder of what theatre does best: it kindles our collective imaginations, whether we’re seven or seventy.

So gather your fellow dreamers, pack your curiosity, and prepare for the unexpected. CIRQUE ALICE will hold a mirror up to your sense of reality—warping it, twisting it, and illuminating it with impossible feats of wonder. And, by the time you emerge back into the Queensland sunshine, you might find yourself asking if it was all just a fantastic hallucination… or if Wonderland might actually exist after all.