Ever since Lewis Carroll sent a curious girl tumbling down a rabbit-hole — and later crawling through mirrors and over chessboards — Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass have inspired a century and a half of adaptations, from films and ballets to operas and television. Cirque Alice, coming to Canberra Theatre in January, turns Carroll’s madly logical fantasia not into a caucus-race, but into circus.
“It’s the Olympics of circus,” creative director Ash Jacks says. “We concocted a beautiful show that’s Alice in Wonderland reimagined through the lens of cirque: acrobatic feats of wonder and outrageous stunts, a kaleidoscope of colour and a wonderful soundtrack. We could let our minds and our hearts run wild with colour, creativity, action, music, costumes, and characters. We really can’t wait for people in Canberra to see the show.”
Cirque Alice features 26 artists from six continents. The Queen of Hearts becomes a hand balancer who contorts her body atop two-metre canes, in a scene of avant-garde card costumes and dramatic choreography. A Mongolian contortion group creates the sinuous Caterpillar. Tweedledum and Tweedledee appear as an explosive Icarian games duo who juggle each other with their feet. Audiences will also see the world’s fastest roller-skaters; a head-to-head acrobatic couple fresh from a global Got Talent win; rola bola; speed juggling; and more.
“They’re doing the unimaginable — things that are absolutely crazy in the best way,” says Layla Schillert, the 19-year-old soprano who sings the role of Alice. “It keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time. It’s thrilling — your heart will race nonstop.”
Alice is Schillert’s first big part: literally so, in one scene. Early in the play, Alice grows and shrinks like a telescope.
“I’m hooked into a harness, I fly up into the air, and my skirt grows out beneath me. I get to sing in the air. It’s magical.”
Raised in a musical family “where everyone sings”, Schillert discovered in high school that musical theatre “lit a little fire inside [her]”. Recommended for the role by Hamilton and Six star Chloé Zuel, she still cannot quite believe her luck.
“It’s such a blessing that they were willing to take a chance on me being so young,” Schillert says. “I’m loving it. It’s honestly so much fun. It’s been a huge learning opportunity for me. It’s super special to be playing the character that the show is about — it’s her journey. I feel very lucky to be in a position where my character is such a huge focus. It’s a great learning opportunity, and I’m loving every second.”
The international cast has become “one big family”, Schillert says, drawn together from Mongolia, Spain, Ukraine, Russia, Tanzania, Peru, the USA and more.
“All these cultures coming together to create something beautiful and magical… I feel honoured to work alongside them and learn from their artistry.”
From the makers of The Illusionists, Circus 1903, and Le Noir, the show premiered in Brisbane, toured to Singapore, and visits Sydney and Adelaide before Canberra. The Australian Arts Review described it as “breathtaking, captivating, spectacular,” and ArtsHub as “a show not to be missed — a joyous and enthralling evening of entertainment”.
The appeal, Jacks says, crosses every age group. “My three-year-old loves it, and so does my football-loving blokey husband. It’s got something for everyone. Honestly, anyone with a heartbeat will love the show.”
Cirque Alice comes to Canberra Theatre from 22 to 31 January 2026. To book tickets, visit canberratheatrecentre.com.au/show/cirque-alice-2026
