While I know that many people use the warmer months during spring and summer to get outdoors, I have always been an indoor person. Bugs freak me out, and sunburns are no joke- I will take my relaxing moments indoors, thank you. All of this is to say: summer has become my season of watching ballets available online and on DVD. (Yes, I still watch DVDs…) One of my favourite ballets to watch in the summer is the Royal Ballet’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Today I’m going to be chatting about why I love Alice and how you can watch it!
*This post does include a referral code (it will be marked).
The Royal Ballet’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (2011)
As you might have guessed, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is a ballet based on the 1865 Lewis Carroll novel of the same name. Alice goes down the rabbit hole to escape boredom and sees… a lot. The ballet doesn’t cover every plot point of the story but a good amount!
Why I Love This Version of Alice
I will be very honest, I’m not a huge fan of Carroll’s book. It always felt dark to me and just creepy (especially as a child). However, I think that Christopher Wheeldon’s production for the Royal Ballet has really brought out the fun side of Alice. The Tart Adage sees the Queen of Hearts partnered (poorly but hilariously) by four playing cards, an intelligent twist on the Rose Adagio from Sleeping Beauty. (See above) And of course, the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party is one of the most entertaining pieces of choreography in recent ballet history- I feel like tap could be brought in more. (See below)
It’s not terribly scary and has an easy to follow plot that I think works for 7-8 and older. And while kids can certainly enjoy it, I wouldn’t say that it is a children’s production- there is a lot for adults here. Also, for any music aficionados: Joby Talbot’s score is fantastic. (It’s available on Spotify, and is great for making your day more exciting.)
How Can You Watch the Royal Ballet’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland?
Aside from seeing it performed live (and I don’t know that there are any productions scheduled for 2022/23), you have two options. Firstly, you can purchase the DVD/Bluray from the Royal Opera House shop or Amazon.
Secondly, you can watch it on Marquee TV, an arts and culture streaming service. This is one of my favourite streaming services, particularly for all of the Royal Ballet productions, including Alice. You can get a free 7 day trial before signing up; if you do want to sign up you can use my referral code for 30% off (I will receive one free month of Marquee if you do use my code:
Referral Code: https://refer.marquee.tv/WIoTZZ6Wuf
Have you seen Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland on stage?
Cheers,
The Historian
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