Cirque Alice | Her Majesty’s Theatre Adelaide | Review

Peek through the looking glass and discover what we loved about this dazzling new show – a Mad Hatter-worthy experience for the whole family.

Review by Carla Caruso

This is Alice in Wonderland like you’ve never seen it before.

After sell-out seasons in Brisbane and Singapore, Cirque Alice – from the creators of The Illusionists – has arrived in Adelaide just as the new year begins. 

The production reimagines Lewis Carroll’s iconic tale using a mix of circus, theatre, cabaret and storytelling. For anyone counting down to Adelaide Fringe season, it offers a lively taste of that world, delivered on a grand theatre scale.

All the familiar characters are here – the White Rabbit, March Hare and Queen of Hearts – but these versions can do mind-and body-bending things. Expect aerial acts, acrobatics, contortion, shadow puppetry, magic and even roller-skating woven into the story.

The sets and costumes impress throughout, from four Mongolian contortionists forming a glittering, many-limbed caterpillar to a garden of exotic ‘living’ flowers animated by dancers, all set to booming, Eurovision-style music.

Staged at Her Majesty’s Theatre, the production even offers cabaret-style on-stage seating for audience members keen to be close to the action – perhaps a little too close at times, given the performers work without a safety net.

Leading the journey through Wonderland is Newcastle-born soprano Layla Schillert (Australian Idol) as Alice. With an angelic voice and an open, wide-eyed warmth, she anchors the show with ease.

Standout performances include America’s Got Talent 2024 grand finalists The Ramadhani Brothers as the Red and White Knights, whose head-balancing and strength acts had me gripping the armrest, and Paul Dabek as the Mad Hatter, whose comedy is as sharp as his magic.

Special mentions also go to Cirque du Soleil aerial duo Emeline Goavee and Yoann Benhamou as the Flying Flamingos, soaring together romantically over the first few rows. Plus, Cirque du Soleil favourites The TT Boys, fresh from the America’s Got Talent semi-finals, flipping and flying across the stage as Tweedledum and Tweedledee.

At times, you can see muscles tremble and concentration etched on performers’ faces – a reminder of the skill and effort behind every moment. Thank goodness there are people brave enough to take up such professions, all in the name of entertainment.

As the Mad Hatter urges at the end, it’s time to leap out of the rabbit hole and carry a little magic back into the real world. Cirque Alice is indeed a joyful way to start the year, and a fab choice for families seeking something a little different.

Curiouser and curiouser? The production’s runtime is two hours and 10 minutes, including a 20-minute interval. The show is recommended for ages six and up. Patrons under 16 must be accompanied by an adult seated alongside them.

Cirque Alice at Her Majesty’s Theatre 8-18 January 2026

See our Top Parks & Playgrounds Around Adelaide

For more information and all enquiries, please visit the Adelaide Festival Centre website.

All photos by Carla Caruso and Natalie Petrizza for Play & Go Adelaide.

At Play & Go Adelaide we make every effort to provide accurate information to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We recommend confirming times, dates and details directly before making any plans as details may be subject to change.

As per all our Play & Go reviews, this is not a sponsored post and our review is done completely independently. All photos are by Play & Go (unless specified).

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