Kent students will feature in a production of Alice in Wonderland: A Musical Dream Play, to be broadcast on YouTube Live and KMTV on Friday 22 May at 7pm.
The performance by the University Music Department is a historic stage adaption of Lewis Carroll’s classic tale to mark the bicentenary of the birth of Sir John Tenniel, illustrator of the first publication of Alice in Wonderland.
The University of Kent has undertaken a reconstruction of an historic adaptation of the book for the stage. First performed at the Royal Globe Theatre on 23 December 1886, the production was overseen by Carroll and written by Henry Savile Clarke, with music by Walter Slaughter. Kent’s production will examine the creative challenges involved in reconstructing a piece of Victorian theatre without the benefit of digital archives.
Sophia Lyons plays the role of Alice. Sophia is studying her third-year on the BA (Hons) in Drama and Theatre. She is a member of the University Chamber Choir, Cecilian Choir and Chorus, and holds a Music Performance Award. Sophia has also been involved in a project with children at St Nicholas School, Canterbury, in line with her degree, facilitating music and drama workshops.
Maddie Jones plays the Cheshire Cat. Maddie is studying in the third year of her BA (Hons) in Drama and Theatre. She also sings with the Cecilian Choir, and has previously sung with Minerva Voices during her time at Kent.
Finally, the role of the White Rabbit is played by Robbie Frederick, who is studying in his second year on the BA (Hons) in Comparative Literature and Drama. Robbie is also a member of the University Chamber Choir and Cecilian Choir, and in 2019 he was involved in the Musical Theatre Society‘s production of Rent at the Marlowe Theatre Studio, Canterbury.
You will be able watch the performance on our YouTube channel.