Second Year Students Take Wonderland Out To Schools

Our Second Year Students Begin Their School Tour of Wonderland

Photos by Ed Felton

An imaginative adaptation of the classic tale exploring emotions, teamwork, and self-discovery.

On October 31st, our second-year students proudly began their school tour of Wonderland at Merchant’s Academy Bristol, in association with Young Bristol.

This dynamic production,  written and directed by Liz Felton,  reimagines Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland for modern young audiences. Felton’s adaptation uses the familiar fantasy world to help children explore emotions, self-expression, and the challenges of group dynamics in a fun, creative way.

In this version, Alice finds herself not in a rabbit hole beneath a tree, but inside the digital world of a school computer. While working on a research project, she suddenly falls into an “internet rabbit hole”,  landing in a colourful Wonderland filled with curious and eccentric characters who mirror her own feelings and struggles.

The role of Alice is uniquely shared between two performers, representing the duality of Alice’s emotional world — the calm, outward-facing student, and the whirlwind of thoughts inside her mind.

The production beautifully combines song, dance, puppetry, and ensemble performance, giving students the chance to showcase the full range of their acting training. Beloved characters such as the Queen of Hearts, Mad Hatter, and Cheshire Cat all make appearances, bringing laughter, energy, and a touch of mischief to the stage.

Audience members were particularly delighted by the White Rabbit and Piglet puppetry, the catchy musical numbers, and the opportunity to interact with the actors throughout the show. After the performance, children eagerly gathered around the cast — asking questions, sharing their favourite moments, and posing for photos. It was heartwarming to see their excitement and curiosity, a true testament to the show’s impact and the students’ engaging performances.

Wonderland is currently on tour at schools across Bristol, with a public performance at Tobacco Factory Theatres on Wednesday 12th November at 10am – Book Tickets Here