Alice in Wonderland

Curiouser and Curiouser !

In November of 2024, Drama & Theatre Club children were joined by our KS2 Arts Ambassadors for a trip to the Shakespeare North Playhouse in Prescot. Children witnessed a magical sequel to Lewis Caroll’s Alice in Wonderland story.

Written by Nick Lane and directed by Nathan Powell, the play follows an older Alice as she embarks on a spot of Christmas shopping in Prescot. Alice spots a rather familiar white rabbit and falls back into Wonderland. Malvern children were in awe as Alice battled to save Wonderland from the evil Duchess – and make it home in time for Christmas dinner.

A few weeks prior to the theatre visit, the play’s associate director – Nicole Behan – visited Malvern. She led a variety of activities for Drama & Theatre Club children. The activities encouraged children to think about their own versions and visions of Wonderland. At the end of the session, Nicole recorded the children talking about their Wonderland. And these voice recordings now form part of the play’s soundscape.

Nicole is a former Malvern pupil. She talked with great fondness about her time at school – about being a member of Gill Knowles’ Drama Club and acting in her Y6 summer play – and the influence that these experiences have had on her. Nicole is currently the Artistic Director of Liverpool’s Paperwork Theatre. Her theatre credits include working at Liverpool’s Everyman and Royal Court Theatres and with the National Theatre.

Children visited the theatre’s Curiouser and Curiouser exhibition, met the cast at the end of the performance and left the theatre feeling uplifted and inspired. As ever, our children were excellent ambassadors for Malvern.