Ballet in three acts (2011)

Tumble down the rabbit hole with Christopher Wheeldon's riotous ballet reimagining of Lewis Carroll’s iconic novel.

At a garden party on a sunny afternoon, Alice (Francesca Hayward) is surprised to see her parents’ friend Lewis Carroll transform into a white rabbit. When she follows him down a rabbit hole, events become curiouser and curiouser…As Alice journeys through Wonderland, she encounters countless strange creatures. She’s swept off her feet by the charming Knave of Hearts (Wiliam Bracewell), who’s on the run for stealing the tarts. Confusion piles upon confusion. Then Alice wakes with a start. Was it all a daydream?

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland first burst onto the stage in 2011 in an explosion of colour, stage magic and inventive, sophisticated choreography. It was the first collaboration between Wheeldon, composer Joby Talbot, and designer Bob Crowley, who would later together create The Winter’s Tale and Like Water for Chocolate for The Royal Ballet. 

Talbot’s score combines contemporary sound worlds with sweeping melodies that gesture to ballet scores of the 19th century. Crowley’s wildly imaginative, eye-popping designs draw on everything from puppetry to projections to make Wonderland wonderfully real.  

The result showcases The Royal Ballet at its very best. 

ROH Guidance: Suitable for all ages.