‘Cirque Alice’ set to premiere at QPAC in 2025
Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) has announced the creative team and star-studded cast for the world premiere of ‘Cirque Alice’, a dazzling reimagining of ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’.
Featuring some of the world’s best acrobatic acts, this epic production will take audiences down the rabbit hole in the Concert Hall from 10 to 22 April 2025, coinciding with the Easter school holidays.
Created by Tim Lawson (‘The Illusionists’) and Simon Painter (‘Painter Productions’), ‘Cirque Alice’ blends gravity-defying circus performances with Lewis Carroll’s beloved characters, reinterpreted through extraordinary physical feats. Rising Australian soprano Layla Schillert (‘Australian Idol’) will step into the role of Alice, while internationally renowned comedic magician Jeff Hobson (‘The Illusionists’) returns to Australia after a decade to play the Mad Hatter.
Bringing Wonderland to life are world-class acrobats, including Cirque du Soleil’s The TT Boys as Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, Australia’s Got Talent finalists The Ramadhani Brothers as the Red and White Knights, Oleg Tatarynov as The Butterfly on aerial pole, Alexandre Lane performing as The March Hare in the Cyr Wheel, and Maria Sarach hand-balancing as The Queen of Hearts.
Creative Producer Simon Painter believes ‘Cirque Alice’ boasts the strongest international cast of acrobats ever assembled in Australia.
“We sought out the very best performers in the world and matched them with the perfect Alice characters,” he said. “The TT Boys bring an energetic, quirky Icarian Games act to Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, while The Queen of Hearts commands the stage with Maria Sarach’s extraordinary hand-balancing.”
The production’s soundtrack, composed by Norwegian musicians Martin Raabe-Olsen and Marius Christiansen, remixes classical pieces such as Flight of the Bumblebee, Für Elise, and the Flower Duet. London’s West End violinist Darius Thompson will provide live accompaniment, while QPAC’s Klais Grand Organ will be used in a way never seen before.
The creative team includes Ash Jacks and Kirsty Painter as Creative Directors, costume designer Angela Aaron, and puppetry by Olivier Award-winning Unit 9. Choreography is led by Dane Bates, with local dancers Abby Lennon, Charlee Danilczak, Kaylee Smith, Gabriel Herrera, and Lachlan Greenland guiding audiences through Wonderland.
Rounding out the spectacle are William Estuart Mena Gonzales as The Dormouse on the rola bola, Maria Romanenko and Alexander Vakar performing as The Flamingos in a duo aerial act, Leandro Zeferino and Anastasiia Vashenko as the roller-skating Royals, and a team of Mongolian contortionists embodying The Caterpillar.
QPAC is co-presenting ‘Cirque Alice’ as part of its QPAC 40 program, celebrating 40 years of storytelling and creativity.
Tickets are now on sale via qpac.com.au.
