23 October 2017 at 11.33pm | 88 Comments
So good I actually feel sorry for people who won’t get to see it #rohalice
— Kerri Brown (@KerriMBrown) October 23, 2017
Boy, it was worth waiting for the Queen of Hearts to dance, INCREDIBLE performance #ROHalice ♥️♣️♦️♠️
— Danni Payne (@dannipaynee) October 23, 2017
The Mad Hatter’s character, costume and dancer are absolutely incredible :) WHAT A JOY to watch him and the rest of the cast in #ROHalice!
— Marleen Vente (@monxies) October 23, 2017
Whoever would’ve thought a belly dancing caterpillar could be quite so captivating #ROHAlice
— Mark (@markas482) October 23, 2017
Loved the tap dancing mad hatter and then loved the belly dancing caterpillar. Can't decide which I loved best #ROHalice
— ???? Bianca J G (@biancajg) October 23, 2017
#ROHalice utterly incredible company, unbelievable score, I wish I could sit in the pit with the orchestra! Unreal
— Danni Payne (@dannipaynee) October 23, 2017
@RoyalOperaHouse #ROHalice what a wonderful performance loved it have to say #RedQueen brilliantly funny #Alice superb #cards amazing ❤
— Shropshire Lavender (@shroplavender) October 23, 2017
Without doubt, THE best translation of Alice there has ever been -costume, casting, choreography, make up and THAT SCORE! Tre-men-dous ???? #ROHalice
— Tracy Smith (@tracyesmith4) October 23, 2017
This was amazing. Never seen a performance like this made so accessible by streaming it to my fav cinema. #ROHalice at @KINORdam
— Rosanne Dubbeld (@soyrosa) October 23, 2017
If you experienced technical issues during the broadcast, please email cinema@roh.org.uk
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was broadcast live to cinemas across the world on 23 October 2017. Find a cinema near you.
What did you think of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, live in cinemas? Add your thoughts to the comments below.
23 October 2017 at 11.33pm
This article has been categorised Ballet and tagged Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, broadcast, by Christopher Wheeldon, cinema, livestream, Production, Social Media, your reaction
This article has 88 comments
Wonderful music particularly but all good except camerawork. Incredible production and loved it but many people felt camera should stay wide more as we missed quite alor
This Was my first time watching a ballet, although I couldn’t be at the royal oprah house I did watch the live stream in my local cinema, I’m a huge fan of Alice in wonderland and this just added the cherry on the top to my obsession and love of curiosity, with out a doubt Amazing!! Thank you!
Absolutely amazing! Saw it last time, saw it today and will see it again, hopefully. Love it! Alice is a wonderful character dancer and the Queen of Hearts, well what can one say!!!!!!!!
Love it!
It was magical, amazing, funny, brilliant.... I was surprised how many laugh out loud moments I had. I'd love to watch it all over again as there was so much going on. Now a DVD would be marvellous.
Carol, you'll be pleased to know there is indeed a DVD ! It is available from the Royal Opera House shop and lots of major retailers that sell DVDs and dance recordings- it stars Lauren Cuthbertson as Alice of course. It's a lovely recording.
So wish this was available to stream so more people could enjoy it - even a paid stream would work
Hi Marie,
Glad you enjoyed the performance.
We do occasionally stream productions in full via our YouTube channel. We also regularly stream rehearsals (and have one coming up tomorrow evening).
I'd recommend subscribing to ensure that you're notified of livestream events.
Thanks,
Chris
I am completely Wowed! Lauren's stamina is so impressive and she dances with graceful ease, as do all the dancers. The orchestra was fabulous, bringing to life a story and a very exciting score!
Wonderful production. Alice superb Mad Hatter and Queen of Hearts stupendous
Loved the Mad Hatter, both the wonderful costume and the tap dancing. Thought the Duchess played a wonderful role with gusto, but the red Queen was the best. She was so expressive.
Amazing. Such beautiful dancing and such incredible character work. Loved it!!
All I can say is FABULOUS!
A hectic, fast-moving, percussionists going flat out in Act 1, thankfully a much calmer Act 2 and 3 with magnificent, effortless dancing by Lauren Cuthbertson as Alice, deserved the best applause!
Such a superb show! I just wish that when it is screened to cinemas, that the camera coul capture the 'whole'stage, rather than what the operators think I would like to see. Its not a film its live, I'd much prefer to see the whole stage and decide what I want to look at! Eg's.. Slow motion, mad hatter's feet! Not top half of the dancers! The screen is big enough to show this anyway!
Watched from the cinema @Exeter and a truly magical performance! costumes, music, dancers all incredible! Absolutely delightful, thank you @ROHalice
I absolutely loved everything. The set and costumes were fantastic. The performances were captivating. Never watched a ballet before, the music and dance brought each individual character to life with a depth and intensity that I could never have imagined.
Fantastic performance s last night especially from Lauren Cuthbertson as Alice and Stephen Macrae as the Mad Hatter. I followed the rehearsals on You Tube but the actual performance was spectacular.Well Done to all the orchestra too!
Fabulous performance and I do now want to see it on stage in the future when I can afford it. Mesmerizing. The Mad Hatter, utterly brilliant to use tap. Alice a dream as always what a star. As far as the cinema broadcast was concerned I felt there were too many close ups. For me the joy its to watch it as its staged and to watch EVERYONE on stage. I felt I was far too directed as to what I was seeing. Often something happening on the edge of the stage catches your eye but this sadly was taken away from the cinema audiences. I do like some close ups but there were fsr to many. my opinion only.
As a relative newcomer to ballet, only about 6 years ago when I tuned 65, I am not qualified to comment on the technical points of ballet, but OMG was this a fantastic evening of entertainment. Spectacle, colour, energy, fun, drama, and total enchantment. Alice, The Q of hearts, the Mad Hatter. So many. And what about the music? Just fabulous.
The most wonderful ballet performance ever! It had everything. Exquisite ballet, fantastic costumes, amazing score, brilliant choreography, great tap dancing, hilarious Red Queen (how did she jump/stamp on points?) an experience I’m so glad I didn’t miss. And I was home in 10 minutes!! Loved it.
Brilliant. The most wonderful ballet performance ever. It had everything. Exquisite ballet, fantastic costumes, amazing score, brilliant choreography, great tap dancing, hilarious Red queen. Loved it.
I watched the great performance in Duisburg/Germany and loved every moment of it. I have never seen a ballet like this before! Superb Alice! Wonderful Red Queen and everybody else on stage.
Please keep on broadcasting to cinemas! I love it! :-)
Fabulous production... But tricky for children to see. I thought it was a family event. The kitchen scene with the baby was really scary and too graphic for children. We had to leave early. Should be a mention on the adverts that it's an adult show.
Hi Annabel,
Sorry to hear that you left early.
Regarding age guidance, we note on our promotional publicity - including posters and flyers - that productions may not be suitable for those under 12. Live relays aren't covered by BBFC age ratings as they're not recorded ahead of time.
Hope that you'll return to join us for another relay in future
Chris
Annabel, I did notice that scene when it was first broadcast on tv after the première, and wondered if it was too graphic for children. Having seen it in person at the Opera House, I have to say it is much less obvious when watching it there, as long as you are not seated too close to the stage. The central rows of the Amphitheatre and Balcony are fine- as long as you don't sit in the side seats very close to the stage. As the camera zooms in close to the action, it no doubt looks very "full on". The children didn't even notice that it was in the least bit graphic or scary in the Amphitheatre at all. "Scary scene? What scary scene?". I hope it hasn't put you all off watching it in future- it really is good family fun when seen live.
Wow! Pure genius on the part of everyone involved. The music and choreography were exceptional!
You did Lewis Carroll proud ! I have to see it again!
Thank you so much for this opportunity..
Loved it, loved it, loved it!
Any chance of an Encore cinema relay please?
Dear David,
We are pleased to let you know that there will be an Encore screening of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland this Sunday 29th October at 2pm. Please follow the link below to find your nearest cinema,
https://www.roh.org.uk/cinemas
Best Regards,
ROH Cinema Team
Great performance. Lovely to bring it to younger audience in the cinema. Zaneida was amazing
It was Laura Morera, not Zenaida Yanowksy
Glad you enjoyed the performance.
The role of the Queen of Hearts was danced last night by Laura Morera. You can find out more about her on her People page at http://www.roh.org.uk/people/laura-morera
Thanks,
Chris
Absolutely Love love loved it - incredible artistry all round. Commentary and intervies excellent too. Superb
What a magic night.
It's a masterpice .... wonderful idea !!!!
The mad hatter was amazing! It must have been so hard to tap and keep the softness of the ballet elements in the piece!
I am only ten but it was amazingly magical!!!
What an absolute delight. Delicious adaptation, outstanding artistry across the board, fabulous score. Loved every minute. Congratulations, everyone!
I’m hooked and have just become a Friend.
Lauren and Steven were superb but can I also add a shout out for James Hay?
I thought his white rabbit was absolutely BRILLIANT.
Agree with comments about the camera work. How can you have a world class tap dancer and then not show his feet? The top half of the queen of hearts was cut off for most of the final courtroom solos/pdd so the her reactions were not shown. Such a shame that cinema audiences missed much of what we are privileged to see at the opera house....
First time with any ballet. (always for posh people) loved it, loved it now want to visit the real thing! Where does "Alice" get her energy from. Loved the Queen.
Superb music brought the whole story together.
I agree about the camera work. More shots of the whole stage would help - the screens are large enough to still see detail. At the cinema I attend there is not the usual instruction regarding not using mobile phones that is given before most films, and we had to ask a woman in front of us to stop using hers as this was very distracting. She appeared to be recording the performance... Otherwise we loved everything - Alice has a champagne-like effect!
Well this is a quite spectacular ballet. Watched in Coimbra last night (only about a dozen people - same as Lisbon for attendance). At least in Limassol, Cyprus you used to get a near full house.
Amazing performance all round & as for the Queen of Hearts - well I think I may have lost my heart to her :))
I loved the whole production - there's something for everyone. I particularly enjoyed James Hay as the white rabbit who was fantastic - so expressive!
The performance was amazing ! It was a joy to watch it, from the very first tune til the end. It was wonderful, magical and so much fun to watch.
Thanks for the wonderful evening!
We watch it from Germany and will add a review on our website soon, to let people here also know what they missed.
Fantastic dancers, wonderful performance – I saw Alice already at the Bavarian Staatsballett and yesterday again at a cinema in Munich/Germany. Thank you so much, it was excellent and the audience here started to cheer in the end! And thank you for the backstage views and interviews :).
Second time I've seen it as a streaming, here in Plymouth, but it was fresh and brilliant once again. Whilst it is sad that a dancer was unable to perform, it was wonderful to see Federico Bonelli on screen again.
Thoroughly enjoyed the ballet, costumes ,music and the grace and elegance of the dancers. Fantastic humour in the Queen of Hearts dance, amazing tap/ballet routine for the Mad hatter and Alice herself was dreamy. Adored the caterpillar, White Rabbit and the Cheshire cat. Great ensemble piece.
A wonderful show. Yes camerawork could have kept wider more.
It is so splendid that we can see such extraordinarily good performances in our own locality.
My first cinema ballet and it worked, a different experience but has its own pleasures and advantages over rl. I've signed up for two more of your broadcasts so that's a result!
An outstanding piece of work with magical dancing, costumes, special effects and score. I was looking forward so much to being transported by this performance but went from being irritated to annoyed to helplessly depressed by the awful camera work which missed many vital moments (for example, White Rabbit's tail popping out of his trousers in the first scene and the
Cheshire Cat's wonderful dance - most attention being given to Alice's top half). And the fantastic kitchen scene was a complete mess with the camera darting all over the place not knowing where to focus. Such a shame.
Love the ballet, less keen on ‘filmed’ productions but this was MARVELLOUS. All dancers made it look effortless. Great music, set and costumes. Every emotion and great humour. Never understood Alice as a child my feet being firmly on the ground, but the caterpillar brought back memories of my dad reading the story to me from a beautifully illustrated book - thank you. Have already recommended this and future streamed productions to friends. Looking forward to nutcracker.
Wonderful dancing from all the cast! What magnificent puppetry work with the Cheshire Cat and marvellous work with the stage effects- now that is true 21st century theatre indeed. Laura Morera was brilliant as Mother/Queen of Hearts and James Hay was superb as the twitchy, lively White Rabbit and kindly Lewis Carroll.
Can I also mention the hilarious and brilliant four "Rose Adagio Parody Suitors" (suit.... card costumes....suit-or! - I just noticed the pun after 5 years....lol!) and three gardeners - do we have a casting credit for all of them? I think I spotted Bennet Gartside, Thomas Whitehead and Calvin Richardson but I could be wrong: their names are not on the digital nor printed cast sheets?
Wonderful evening. It was a clever idea to have it as someone dreaming they were Alice as explained at the end - allowed some changes to the story such as the romance between Alice and Jack, which worked really well. The tap routines were fantastic!
A wonderful performance! Can't wait to go to another one.
We watched it all the Aros Centre in Portree on the Isle of Skye where we live so It was fantastic that we were able to see it, especially live. It was absolutely amazing, enchanting, mesmerising and magical. It was such a shame that there were so few children as the they are back at school here in Scotland. Couid you stream matinées for children. Thank you fo such a wonderful evening. How about doing Through the Looking Glass?
I was lucky enough to be in the Opera House last night at what I was my first encounter with Alice since its last run a couple of years back. It was exciting to finally see Lauren in the role created for her by Wheeldon after she missed the entirety of the last run. She inhabits the role with great presence and her dancing and acting were probably the best I've seen from any Alice to date (although Sarah Lamb was excellent last time around and I've yet to see Frankie Hayward).
We benefited from an A cast on A grade form, including Federico, Steven and Laura. What I enjoyed most was the arrival of a number of newcomers, including James Hay (who turned in a deliciously neurotic White Rabbit), Fernando Montano (nailing those moves as the Caterpillar) and Tierney Heap (as the hapless Dormouse).
I have to say something about Laura who was nothing less than side-splittingly good as the Queen of Hearts. I struggle to think of a more versatile dancer and she is certainly a worthy successor to Zenaida in this very demanding role.
Am I right in thinking that a few minor tweaks have been made to the production since the last run? Joby Talbot's music sounded as crisp as ever. Indeed I always know when the percussive tick-tocks of the clocks start that I am about to head off down the rabbit hole. Can't think of a nicer thing to do!
I loved every single moment of the non stop exciting story telling. What extraordinary creativeness all combined to produce such an unforgettable Ballet.
I'm still in that magical world of wonder, colour beauty, passion and the most amazing dancing from the first moment to the very last.
I so wish I could see it again. H
Will you newsletter it out to us if there is a repeat cinema screening? I will be there for sure.
I'm already looking forward to the next Live screening in Dec.
It's so generous to share this wonderful experience with those of us who are not able to get to the Theatre. Thank You.
Leamington Spa
I have been watching all ROH ballets in cinema, thinking that neither one can be topped. But Alice seemed the top to me with music, design and choreo matching each other perfectly. World's best ballet company.
Wonderful ballet, so full of treats. Alice was as light as air, and conveyed such joy and wonder. All the dancers, includng chorus, were pretty spot on. I especially liked the White Rabbit/ Lewis Carroll. He was so expressive and charming. The Mad Hatter's tap/ballet routine was amazing, very challenging I suspect, though Stephen Macrae made it look effortless, and the Red Queen so brilliantly funny. Costumes and staging excellent. Heard this score for the first time, and liked it very much. All in all, an uplifting and exciting production. We are now planning a trip to London for a live ballet production (or two.) Who would have thought ballet could be so exciting and compelling.
I was really impressed by James Hay as the white rabbit. The gestures, the facial expressions, the dance; everything was perfect. He was perfectly embodying the white rabbit.
Saw Alice last night in Kingsbridge, Devon. Ballet perfect - dancing and score completely outstanding, sound and vision quality first rate. BUT PLEASE PLEASE can you engage presenters with more presenting expertise?! You might poach from Radio 3 for the evening. A particular irritant was being reminded time without number that we were watching Alice from the RoH. We KNEW that for heaven's sake! Agree that too many close ups. wider view of stage would be welcome.
BUT, a great evening nevertheless.
Wonderful!!!
We absolutely loved it. Creative, amazing skills - our 10 year old granddaughter wasn't sure at first but she was absolutely mesmerised and we had to watch parts again on YouTube this morning, which was no hardship! We're really looking forward to seeing it again.
Absolutely fabulous. I took my 71 yr old mother, three girls 8,11.13 and my husband. We had a perfect family evening. Will definitely do it again.
Spellbinding! It would be difficult to choose a favourite part of the ballet it was all so creative and special. Would love to see it all again given the chance.
Had to miss last night's live broadcast as I was too tired to drive all the way to Carpentras (and back, that is the worst bit), but to my delight discovered through your website not only that there is a encore on 8 Dec, but that there are now several more cinemas in the region showing ROH Live productions. Still a fairly long way off, but slightly easier roads.
I hope the Encore Alice can be shown at a child friendly time - it is term time!
Thank you so much for an incredible perfect performance.
We San it in the cinema in Holland.
So did no-one notice that the Act I panorama froze, or that half the set was missing for the Act III trial scene, and that not even the surviving stack of cards at the back collapsed at the end as they're supposed to?
Christopher Wheeldon is a genius producing ballets from the most unlikely stories. The Winters Tale another example and of course the brilliant Joby Talbot is an essential part of the team. Everyone in the ballet was so professional dancing and acting wonderfully well. But a special shout out for Laura's Red Queen, she really was an absolute delight. When I watched this, as I have live on many occasions, I always wonder what Dodgson would think if he could see what had evolved from the fairy tale he told to Alice and her sisters as they rowed up the river (usually they rowed down stream but on this day, 10th February 1863 they rowed up stream). At the end of the day Alice begged Dodgson to write the story down for her. This he did over a period of months drawing the pictures himself. The manuscript he wrote in a book (about A5 size) which is now in the British Library. It got there because of the generosity of some bibliophiles in America where it had been taken in 1928 having been sold by Alice, then aged 75, at auction. In 1946 on the death of the owner it was again auctioned and bought by the Americans who decided it should be returned to its own country, as a gesture of thanks for the British peoples gallantry in the Second World War.
Back to the streaming. My only plea, and others have mentioned it, is that the close ups should be kept to a minimum and when it is really necessary. Too much is missed, especially in Alice, of peripherol, but interesting actions on the stage. I have mentioned this before
espcially in Annastasia but I might as well talk to the wall. Those of us lucky to get to a live performance at the ROH see the whole ballet as produced with great skill and not a little effort by Chirstopher and team so why are those at the cinema not allowed to see it all? As others have said it is not a film it is a live performance.
Hugh Axton
I was a firm believer that the first time is always the best. However this production is like a fine wine, the more years that it is performed and the more times you see it, the more enjoyable it becomes. I have now watched different live streamings three times, with different castings and watched the Blu-ray several times, the performers are perfect, but not better than the first time I saw it, but each time I become more drawn to it. I think that Alice's will still be enjoyed by generations a hundred years from now, just like the great classics.
Magical , performance, stunning Alice and what a wonderful tap dancing Mad Hatter.
The Red Queen Pas des Deaux was brilliant!!
Thank you for such a wonderful experience .
Never to be forgotten .
Wonderful Steven McRae was amazing I think you have all excelled yourselves thankyou so for a lovely evening.
I have never written a revue before
I want to comment on the subject of full stage or not. I get the point about making your own choice of what to view, but if you are up in the gods of the theatre you do not get to see the facial expressions and everything else that makes these cinema performances so special. There might be a case for altering the balance but I for one would not like to give up the advantages of these close ups that the cinema offers.
On another point, here if France I am hoping to get a group of about 50 people from our village, all French, to come with me to see Caisse Noisette. How can I get hold of some publicity in French which I can email to them all, preferably something which I can embed in a poster with date and local venue.
I am hoping that Alice is repeated in the next cinema season. If I could get to a venue for the ENCORE, on Sunday, I would be there like a shot.
I find it very odd that not all of the performers are credited in cinema broadcasts and on DVD for that matter, especially as they seem to credit the boy who makes the tea and the girl who answers the phone for the film/edit team.
I did notice the stack of cards at the back didn't collapse - I was waiting for it! I agree with comments about close ups. I didn't see Jack on trial until it was over because the camera didn't show wide enough view. The effect of the sea bathing scene was spoiled by being too close. I appreciate people in ampitheatre can't see facial expressions, nor from the back of the stalls, but that doesn't mean the camera has to zoom in to just the face. The dancers somehow manage to convey the story with their whole bodies. Full body close ups are lovely at times but it is good to see how partners relate to each other in pas de deux. It was still a WONDERFUL evening! Lauren Cuthbertson superb as always.
Big mistake on my part!!! Should definitely been there in the audience, as it was by far THE most enjoyable ballet I have seen in years. Lauren was superb, but very nearly upstaged by the Red Queen. Have never laughed so much at such an inspired production. Was unsure about the music, but Joby absolutely rose to the occasion.
Brilliant evening, but who was the presenter with Darcy? Was he a dancer? I thought he was excellent.
Rose
Hi Rosemary,
Thanks for your comment. The presenter was Alexander Campbell, Principal Dancer of The Royal Ballet - and we agree, he was excellent! We'll pass on your comments.
Many thanks,
Mel
Absolutely brilliant performance, congratulations to everybody linked to the production. Came out of the cinema on a high.
It was utter perfection from start to finish. Saw it in the cinema in East Kilbride, scotland. What a brilliant way to spend an eve. From the presenting to the little insights, costumes, acting, set, and the music! And above all else the most unbelievable talent of the dancers- the final pas de deux was stunning and v emotional. Off to buy the dvd!
Fabulous in every way !!!!
AND WELCOME to the talented Alexander, such a great change to have a man with Darcy who shares her knowledge and love of dance. More Alexander please let Ori go
back to other things far away from RO H Ballet.
Saw this wonderful production at cinema Encore yesterday Afternoon. Tap dancing Mad Hatter Steven McRae amazing and Lauren perfect Alice. In fact totally brilliant cast and production. Except ... as many others have commented, for the cinema screening too many closeups which meant too many missed wide shots of the whole stage and what is going on there! I have found this to be the case on most of the other cinema screenings I have been to over the last few years. Please listen to what so many people are saying.
Just returned from an encore showing of Alice - and want to echo what everyone else has said. What a fabulous evening's entertainment. We were swept away by it all - it was an utterly magical, thrilling spectacle - and everything about it was stunning from the score to the costumes, and the choreography to the characterisation. Lauren Cuthbertson is always a complete delight to watch and she was an enchanting Alice. Stephen McCrae brilliant as ever - and loved James Hay as the White Rabbit. Laura Morera was a revelation as the Red Queen. I last saw her in a far more serious role and had no idea she was such a comic genius. Her version of the Rose Adagio was laugh out loud hilarious. Please pass on congratulations to everyone involved. (PS I agree with the comments about filming - and always think this - please could we see the
whole stage as we would if we were at ROH ....) (PPS I would still like the DVD - where can I buy it?)
You can buy the DVD or BLU-RAY through ROH shop, Amazon, Dodax, Musicmagpie, Speedyhen or through many other retail outlets.
It was a stunning feast for your eyes! The whole performance held your attention from start to finish. I loved the costumes and the sets, it was all so clever. Each character was fabulous and drew you in to their story. Absolutely loved it ALL❤️. Also, the behind the scenes interviews are a much added bonus ! Thankyou!
I loved Alice at the Odeon in Orpington. The whole show was a joy to watch. Alice was outstanding and the Mad Hatter's tap dancing routine fantastic. All the costumes were wonderful and a joy to behold. Thank you for giving us all the opportunity to watch these wonderful performances at the cinema.
Such an amazing show! I've seen it alot of times and keep wanting more! Any cast is amazing!!
Best. Ballet performance. Ever. True. Fact.