26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Wexford theatre school's new take on ‘Alice in Wonderland' is their best show ever
Featuring a cast of 130 young performers aged 5 to 19, this production brought audience members on a journey through Wonderland, filled with beloved characters, playful humour and jukebox musical favourites.
Speaking after all four performances of the show wrapped, PRO Susan Flavin Bell said: 'It truly was our best show ever and people were really remarking on the costumes and the set were really vibrant colours.
"There were 130 kids and it's always a big undertaking to move that many kids around in one show. The kids were such troopers and by the Saturday night they were pretty much exhausted but they had such a sense of accomplishment.
"The support from the wider community, not just the parents, is really notable in Gorey because if it was just the parents, you wouldn't fill the theatre four times over and sell 1,300 tickets. It's important that so many come out to support the arts,' said Susan.
Lily Heinrich Doyle wrote and directed this musical adaptation of Lewis Carroll's timeless story, with choreography by Madison Coleman and musical direction by Richard O'Toole. Three actors took to the stage as Alice and the show highlighted the exceptional talent and passion of the students at Innovations Theatre School.
"Our director Lily Heinrich Doyle completely changed and rearranged the show. She made it into a show with so much heart so people were actually crying at the end of it. It kind of felt like the end of the Wizard of Oz, where Alice is leaving all these characters behind where they're all mad and all the best people are,' said Susan.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in 2023 and The Jungle Book in 2024.
