Ballet newbie Julie Khan takes a look at this technically ambitious production from a designer's perspective
Outside in Covent Garden it's a freezing day, but inside the Royal Opera House the main foyer is decorated for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland with giant chairs and bushes with red roses climbing up banisters. I look on in awe, as I’m told how much this ballet means to the Opera House. Being the first full ballet production commissioned for the London Royal Ballet in 15 years, you can see why they've decided to spruce up the place.
Seating over 2,000 people, the Royal Opera House instantly makes you feel like you're in a place of importance. Even from the amphitheatre you can see perfectly well, although the lady in front of me using binoculars makes me regret not bringing that monocle after all.
As a designer I can't help but notice just how technical this production is. This is my first experience of a ballet and I hadn't quite realised the scale of the operation. As I sit looking at the stage beneath me, my mind wonders how each part has been created. From the puppetry used to recreate Alice falling, to the inventive ways they portray her fitting through the magical door, this production brings a new media element to ballet and will hopefully dismiss the traditional stigma that can sometimes surround this wonderful art.
The dancers depict the story of Alice with elegance. I was initially sceptical about an acoustic dance stage but with the orchestra in sight and the dancers using movement to make up for the absence of words, even someone with little knowledge of the story would never find themselves lost.
The ending I find slightly puzzling though. Are they trying to persuade more people to read the book? Or do they want to end on a modern note, with a denim-clad ballet dancer? Either way Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is not just for those with an in-depth knowledge of literature or ballet; it opens its doors for a more contemporary audience: those that love the book, the Disney cartoon and more recently Tim Burton’s film. The wave of Alice has hit ballet, and in the words of the clever three year-old sitting next to me, “it’s just beautiful!”
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland runs until 15th March
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