You’ve just finished exploring parallel universes with The Time Machine and are now navigating a digital Wonderland, how do you find the shift so quickly from one to the other, when both are so totally different?
LD: Even though I spent over 4 weeks performing The Time Machine on Zoom, our director, Zoë Seaton, has completely reimagined how we interact with the virtual platform and our audience, which has been such a thrill. It can be challenging to jump into an entirely different world when your stage is your bedroom, but working with the same company made the transition a lot easier. I think once you receive costume and props (like a miniature house!) on your doorstep you really start to believe the fantasy of Alice in Wonderland.
What’s been your favourite moment in the rehearsal process so far?
LD: I got such a buzz seeing the audience in our first run of the show. When you see whole families engaging with the characters and wacky games it really makes all the hard work and moments of “what are we doing here?!” feel totally worth it.
How have you found the digital rehearsal process compared to being in a rehearsal room physically with other members of the cast and creative team?
LD: Even though The Time Machine went online, I had met everyone in real life before lockdown. So this time round was a little strange, and though Zoom is a great platform it does not compare to grabbing a cup of coffee and getting to know your cast members in real life. But it is a brilliant way of keeping theatre alive in what are unprecedented times, and creates great moments of improv when a cast member suddenly disappears!
Alice in Wonderland plays hugely on imagination and mind-trickery which seems like the perfect classic to adapt into a digital form! Can you tell us a bit about the adventure our audiences will go through (without giving too much away!)?
LD: It really goes above and beyond what you may have thought possible on a digital platform. You can expect to see special special effects, video games and even magic. The beauty of it is that audience members experience a live show that offers so much choice, so you can have an entirely different experience every show. The creative team put together a balance of digital and ‘real-world’ trickery, so we still operate a lot of props (you would not believe what our set-ups look like at home) and even though it’s bonkers, it still feels steeped in reality… Did I give too much away?
If the rabbit hole could lead you anywhere in the world, where would you go right now?
LD: Oh wow, that’s a good question! I’d probably go somewhere in the Bahamas and set up shop there. The nice thing about doing this virtually is that you and the audience could be anywhere in the world.
