Alice in Wonderland

Curiouser and Curiouser…

Our School Production 2024, Alice in Wonderland, was performed to packed audiences on Monday and Tuesday evening. Students from all years took part, with weekly rehearsals running from this September. Alongside those acting, our students also took on the challenges of costumes, staging, set, sound and lighting. This year the staging meant that the audience were in the midst of Wonderland, with the actors performing in and around the hall, as well as on the stage. There was even an opportunity for audience participation, with the front row having the chance to vote if it should be ‘off with her head’! The production called for some clever casting, direction and set design, with an on-screen giant Alice, a three-student caterpillar, the disappearing Cheshire Cat and some inflatable flamingos!

Mrs Howe, Head of Drama, said: “The School Production is a celebration of drama at St Bart’s and we had great fun with this year’s chosen script. It was a brilliant ensemble which enabled more of our students to take on speaking roles and shine on stage. It was particularly pleasing that so many of our Year 7s chose to get involved, as casting took place during only their second week at St Bart’s! The challenge this year was to realise Lewis Carroll’s weird and wacky world of characters using the resources available, and to do so, we had to draw on the ideas and talents of our actors – whether it was our Mad Hatter, Sleepy Dormouse or tyrannical Queen of Hearts! Also, of huge importance were the skills of the students managing the technical gallery, and the energy and organisation of our stage hands.”

This was a brilliant and energetic showcase to see out 2024.

Congratulations to all involved and especially to our two Alices, Ada Swift Marshall and Jessie Murphy.

Our thanks to the wonderful Drama Department who directed and produced – Mrs Howe, Mrs Parkington and Mr Glancy, with Mr Weller in the tech gallery. Our thanks also to staff in the Expressive Arts Faculty for musical support, set, costumes and the programme. We’d also like to thank Maria Robertson (Didcot Girls’ School) and Mrs Williams (St Joseph’s College, Reading) for their help with costumes and props.