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Alice in Wonderland

Author: Jo Sykes

Information

Date
6th June 2025
Society
Horbury Pageant Players
Venue
Westgate Common Club
Type of Production
A play with music
Director
Emily Ritchie
Music
Zoe Parkin and Emily Ritchie
Choreographer
Penny Parkin
Sound and Light
Matt Roberts
Written By
Richard Coleman

This production was a wonderful trip down the rabbit hole to see Horbury Pageant Players first Junior production.  With the cast made up solely of children and young people aged 16 and under it was new venture for this long-standing community theatre group.  Under the direction of Emily Ritchie, fourteen young people shared with the sell-out audience a wonderful tale of into the imagination and determination of Alice.

We were introduced to the story by Matilda and Mia who eloquently provided narration throughout the tale.  With great projection and poise we were kept up to speed with the progress in this strange wonderland Alice is visiting.  Ellie, taking the titular role, was a confident singer and actor.  She gave Alice a delightful ‘edge’ as she progresses through this adventure that is getting stranger and stranger.  Mya was a lively and lovely White Rabbit, with great delivery and lovely characterisation.

Sally, who was making her debut with this group as The Mad Hatter, totally captured the madness of this character with a great introductory number.  The Tea Party was wonderful with Jessie as the sleepy Dormouse and Farrah as the March Hare.  There was delightful interaction between all the characters during this scene and they also did an excellent job of moving the stage furniture. 

Jess and Maggie made a super comedic entrance as Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee – it was lovely to see them both bringing funny physicality to the production.  Chloe was a demanding Queen of Hearts who commanded the stage from her opening entrance leaving everyone feeling sorry for her subjects and husband.  The King of Hearts was played by Alex, the youngest cast member, who did a great job with his lines. It was super casting to have this interesting height dynamic.

Skye was a very competent Guard, doing all the Queen’s bidding.  Ruby took three roles as the clock, Cheshire Cat and the footman and did all very well, similarly Lois was both the Knave of Clubs and the Knave of Hearts, very nearly loosing her head, but shifting easily between the two roles.

Costumes were excellent – well done to the costume team of Jess Allatt and Emma Proctor.  Props were perfect for the production and had all been created in-house by Barry Ottewell and Arthur Lumb who had worked with the team right through rehearsal to ensure that the young cast had the opportunity to rehearse with everything they would need on stage.  Sound and light was sharp, effective and added to the overall staging which worked well in the setting.

This really was a super production, showcasing the talents of the youngest members of Pageant Players and giving them the opportunity to be centre stage in the spotlight.  The evening provided a mid-year social event for the group with a themed quiz following the performance which well managed by Quiz Master Dan Allatt and his team of junior comperes.

 Huge congratulations to all the Creative Team for a great show with super pace, great choreography and excellent delivery by the young cast.

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