News
Thursday, 23 June 2011
Setting the Scene on Alice's Day
Children get a chance to be part of the action in some dramatic and madcap goings-on during Alice’s Day on July 9th 2011. Some of the country’s most inventive performers will be creating unusual outdoor theatre in intriguing and historic locations across Oxford city centre.
At Oxford Castle, a cast of real life historical eccentrics who may have inspired Lewis Carroll’s Alice will guide visitors on a walking tour with a difference around the Castle. Stopping points will include places not normally open to the public such as Christopher Wren’s viewing gallery. Under Construction theatre company’s Lizzy McBain said:”We’ll be reflecting back in time and exploring the idea of Oxford as the original Wonderland. There are some fascinating local stories connected with Oxford and Lewis Carroll drew on many of them. Did you know, for instance, that the Mad Hatter was based on a furniture maker on the High Street?”
Mapping Wonderland is just one of several wacky shows which aim to captivate visitors young and old on Alice’s Day.
At the home of the future Story Museum in Pembroke Street, storytelling theatre company Scandalmongers invite children to play hide and seek with the White Rabbit, flamingo croquet with another Queen of Hearts - and join in a truly bonkers tea party.
Aspiring Alices and Alistairs can join in the fun with Dodgy Clutch theatre company on the Natural History Museum’s front lawn, where an eccentric Red Queen and friends will be holding an ‘unbirthday’ party. There may even be a large caterpillar and mushroom…
In the University Botanic Gardens, children can follow the antics of the Jabberwocky with members of Shiplake College’s Mad Dogs theatre company. They’ll come across mysterious gardeners tending their bizarre plants and will be invited to help create the performance’s finale.
Real drama enthusiasts can even create their own mini-Alice productions with the help of Creation Theatre, during workshops at the Town Hall/Museum of Oxford, Oxford Castle and Millet’s Farm, near Abingdon.
Alice’s Day is coordinated by The Story Museum. For full programme information on these and other frabjous events during this year’s jam-packed Alice’s Day, visit http://www.storymuseum.org.uk/Alice. A map and guide will be available for download from the website a week before the event.
