26/05/2021
Student-led Alice in Wonderland production comes to life
In May 2021, High School students from ACS Egham achieved the extraordinary. They put on a student-led performance, inspired by Alice in Wonderland.
In a usual school year, although no less of an achievement, putting on a play or performance would have seemed like a very normal, ordinary feat to accomplish. In Covid-19 times, however, the students have shown committed resilience, creativity and dedication to ensuring this performance went ahead, whether it be outside, inside, to no audience or to any audience at all.
The play was chosen and re-written by the students to reflect modern societal challenges from their own perspectives. The classic Cheshire Cat was transformed into a predator, responsible for Alices’ metaphorical loss of innocence. The Tweedle brothers demonstrated sexual harassment, the Mad Hatter’s tea party symbolised the effects of drug use and abuse, and finally, the Queen of Hearts Court demonstrated power dynamics, changing gender roles with the Queen having direct parallels with a Trump-esque figure.
We spoke to some of the students involved, Saskia (script-writer and director), Ginger (costume designer) and Alev and Reyaansh (set designers) about their experience bringing this performance to life.