Alice: Return to wonderland

Alice: Return to Wonderland — Sherman Theatre (Review)
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Caitlin Lavagna (Red Queen) Photo: Mark Douet

Sherman Theatre’s Alice: Return to Wonderland is festive entertainment done with real craft and ambition: a big-hearted family show that feels both spectacular and intimately live. Made in-house in Cathays, it has the kind of care and cohesion you can feel in every department—an epic set, stunning costumes, beautifully integrated puppetry, and irresistible original tunes performed up close by a superb Welsh and Wales-based actor-musician cast. It’s the sort of Christmas outing that doesn’t just entertain for an evening—it leaves you humming on the way home.

Elian Mai West (Alice) & Keiron Self (Rabbit) Photo: Mark Douet

What’s the story?

Set on Christmas Eve, 1947, the show begins in Cardiff, where Alice is now grown up and working as a town planner. Just as she’s about to begin her latest building project, she’s interrupted by the sudden arrival of an old, fluffy friend. In no time, Alice is pulled back into Wonderland—only now it’s not simply a return visit. She’s thrust into a race against time to save her daughter, Carys, from the clutches of the Red Queen. It’s a smart framing: grounding the story in a real place and time gives the adventure extra purpose, and the shift from everyday Cardiff into the heightened logic of Wonderland lands with a satisfying jolt. Essentially, Alice: Return To Wonderland is an ensemble piece, but anchored by leads who deliver.

Caitlin Lavagna (Red Queen) & Mari Fflur (Carys) Photo: Mark Douet

Performances (standouts across the board)

This production is stacked with excellent work, but what really impresses is how consistently everyone plays in the same world—comedy, stakes, and music all working together rather than competing.

Caitlin Lavagna as the Red Queen

A flawless interpretation of an iconic character—sharp comedic timing, total control of the room, and spellbinding vocals. The extra feat is that she drums throughout the show as well; those costume changes were quick. It’s a performance that’s intimidating and funny in equal measure, and it never dips into caricature. “Red” is a power ballad that you will want desperately to repeat.

Elian Mai West as Alice

Elian is exactly what you want in a lead: solid, reliable, and completely watchable. She holds the show together with calm authority, giving the story a steady spine even as Wonderland swirls into chaos around her. She’s the glue that makes everything else click.

Max James as the Hatter

A modern take that works: strong vocals, clear character choices, and an energy that feels current without losing the Wonderland weirdness. He’s a bright, playful presence who helps keep the show moving.

Keiron Self as the Rabbit

Genuinely funny—bringing that warm Christmas panto spirit without tipping into anything too broad or over-the-top. Maintaining the production’s balancing act: festive warmth, but not cheap gags. He’s a great “audience guide” into the madness, and his comic instincts keep scenes buoyant.

Mari Fflur as Carys

It’s genuinely impressive how convincing this performance is. It’s hard to believe you’re watching an adult performer play a child, because Mari’s portrayal is so committed and specific that you simply accept her. That’s not just skill; it’s craft and control. She brings a focus that keeps the emotional stakes feeling real.

Oliver Wood

A top-class comedic actor who delivers on multiple fronts. He understands rhythm—of dialogue, of physicality, of musical comedy— the Humpty Dumpty is worth the price of a ticket alone.

Hannah McPake

Writer and Director, Hannah McPake, doesn’t just stage a story—she makes it relatable. Turning iconic figures into mirrors that the audience can recognise. There’s something beautifully iconic and nostalgic in the shape of this story, but it’s been made more human - Take a bow.

Photo: Mark Douet

Music and musicianship: a score you want to replay

The original score (by Lucy Rivers) is a triumph: infectious, high-quality, and varied in genre, with numbers that get you moving in your seat. The lyrics feel purposeful rather than filler, and the cast delivers them with such clarity and commitment that you leave wanting the soundtrack immediately.

A huge credit goes to the musical direction (led by MD Barnaby Southgate): everything feels tight, confident, and perfectly executed, while still keeping the spontaneity of live performance.

The band (and a special mention)

The band is incredible, and the integration of actor-musicians gives the show its engine. Special mention to Joe Tweedale, whose musicianship is outstanding—especially while sprinting across the stage at full pace at points. That combination of precision and physical commitment is exactly what makes this production feel so alive.

Design: West End scale (without losing Sherman warmth)

The set is jaw-dropping—the kind of visual statement you’d expect on a West End stage—yet it doesn’t dwarf the performers; it supports them. The costumes are equally striking, and the puppetry is used with real intention, adding texture and wonder rather than feeling like a gimmick. Together, they build a world that’s rich, playful, and theatrical in the best way. Congratulations, Elin Steele.

JoeTweedale. ElianMaiWest, Emily Ivana Hawkins & Max James (Hatter) Photo: Mark Douet

Final verdict

Alice: Return to Wonderland is a joyous Christmas show with genuine artistic heft: funny without being forced, spectacular without being hollow, and musical in a way that feels essential to the storytelling. Anchored by a dependable, compelling Alice, powered by a remarkable stand-out performance by Caitlin Lavagna (Red Queen), and elevated by top-tier design, it’s festive theatre with a proper sense of occasion.

If you’re looking for a Christmas trip out that feels different, high-quality, and completely transporting, this one delivers. It gives kids spectacle and silliness—but it also gives adults something sneakier: a reminder that imagination isn’t childish, it’s vital.

Cast:

Elian Mai West

Mari Fflur

Caitlin Lavagna

Joseph Tweedale

Max James

Keiron Self

Emily Ivana Hawkins

Oliver Wood

Zara Law

Creative Team:

Hannah McPake - Writer and Director

Lucy Rivers - Composer

Alice Eklund - Associate Director

Barnaby Southgate - Musical Director

Elin Steele - Designer

Sam Jones - Sound Designer

Andy Pike - Lighting Designer