REVIEW: Alice by Heart

Rhona Bechaz | Saturday 2 May

Phoenix Ensemble | Pavilion Theatre

1 - 23 May, 2026

"I’m not afraid of falling, I’m afraid of landing." – Alice

Alice by Heart 'Jabberwocky' - Photography By B'rit Creative

Dreamy, engaging, and emotive.

It was a delight to follow the talented team of creatives ‘down the hole’ at Phoenix Ensemble's Pavilion Theatre and witness the triumph that is Alice by Heart. Perfectly balancing the nonsensical with the tragic, this production seamlessly transports its audience between Wonderland and WWII England with its music, storytelling, and choreography. As someone who adores stories with whimsical and tragic elements, I was delighted to find plenty of both.

Alice by Heart is based around the title protagonist, Alice Spencer (Madeleine Ford), and her real-world struggles as she shelters from war beneath the London streets. Under the strict eye of the Nurse (Emma Erdis), Alice comforts her closest friend Alfred (Kaitlin Evans) through his declining health by retelling the story of Alice in Wonderland. As they relive their childhood memories of the story, with mixed feelings from the rest of the eclectic refugees, they create the imaginary world of Wonderland. 

With book & lyrics by Steven Sater & Jessie Nelson, and imaginative score by Duncan Sheik, Alice by Heart is an underrated ensemble musical with incredible scope for creative license. And, wow, did Phoenix Ensemble deliver creativity by the bucket load!

Director Hayley Gervais deftly juggles the two worlds of England and Wonderland, often allowing one to bleed into the other through clever lighting choices and intentional blocking. The transitions feel fluid and purposeful, guiding the audience effortlessly between realities. Gervais allows the powerful emotions of grief, nostalgia, frustration, and love, to be experienced fully by the audience through expressive storytelling. Characters are unique, recognisable yet never boring, and constantly keeping us on our toes with what they may do next.

Choreographer Hannah Macri once again delivers the highly polished creative work we have come to expect. The cast executes contemporary choreography with precision and emotional clarity, while Macri’s inventive use of space, character, props, and technical movement keeps performers constantly engaged. There is never a dull moment. I was lucky enough to discuss one of the jaw-dropping choreographical elements with Macri, the iconic lift in ‘Down the Hole’!

Alice by Heart - Photography By B'rit Creative

“The biggest thing was the lift in ‘Down the Hole.. we worked so hard on that lift! We dedicated an entire day to focus on how to safely lift people. Because it required the flyers to cartwheel into the position too, it did take a good month and a half! It's seamless now - they worked really hard.”

~ Hannah Macri

One element made extremely clear from the onset of the production opening was the intense closeness and trust between cast members. Trust evident in the many, many choreographical lifts, the onstage relationships, and clear enjoyment in performance, Sarah Bennett (Assistant Director) spoke briefly with me about casting the show, and the special experience and growth of the group as a whole.

Alice by Heart - Photography By B'rit Creative

“They're such specific roles, finding those amazing individuals who literally personify those roles…and the unison of that cast coming together so beautifully and growing together and coming to really trust each other.” 

~ Sarah Bennett

Under the musical direction of Rae Rose, the production truly finds its heart. The vocal work across the cast is consistently exceptional, with tight melodies and harmonies throughout. While standout moments are usually easy to identify, here it feels impossible. Each performer contributes something uniquely compelling. Harmonies are warm and resonant, with intentionally “crunchy” dissonances resolving with deep satisfaction. The use of octave layering adds richness and depth, and although each vocalist brings a distinct tone, the ensemble blends beautifully, supporting one another while still allowing individual voices to shine.

The band, conducted by Rae Rose, becomes a character in its own right, weaving together the emotional and narrative threads of the piece. Moving seamlessly through multiple musical styles, their transitions between dialogue and song are almost imperceptible, supported by impeccable balance and sound mixing from the sound team.

Lighting design by George Pitt provides one of the production’s earliest “wow” moments. The dim glow of the WWII bunker establishes tone immediately, followed by striking use of backlighting and special effects. Floor lights and spotlights are used to great effect, guiding audience focus and heightening key moments. The contrast between the dim tones of the bunker and the vibrant colours of Wonderland helps clearly delineate the two worlds while enhancing the production’s overall visual beauty.

Set design by Andrew Bennett is nothing short of remarkable. At first glance, the tiled surfaces prompt curiosity, is it wallpaper or print? The revelation that each tile was painstakingly measured and hand-painted speaks volumes about the level of craftsmanship involved. From hidden trapdoors to the lofty mezzanine, sliding prop cupboards to era-specific posters, every detail reflects intention, care, and extraordinary effort.

Alice by Heart - photography By B'rit Creative

The costuming strikes a thoughtful balance between simplicity and design. Alice’s iconic blue dress is elegantly understated, allowing freedom of movement for a role that rarely leaves the stage while keeping the audience’s focus firmly on her journey. The addition of crocheted pieces by Cameron Grimmett (and yes, I admit a personal bias as a fellow crocheter) adds both visual texture and historical resonance. These handcrafted elements subtly reference the knitting and crochet work common during wartime, grounding the production in its historical context. In an increasingly digital world, the presence of such tangible, handmade artistry feels especially meaningful.

With the gorgeous visual aesthetics and music as a foundation, the incredible cast are the true highlights of this production.

Alice by Heart - Photography By B'rit Creative

A more perfect Alice there has never been.

Lighting up the stage and driving the story, Madeleine Ford wows us with her sweet voice and precocious characterisation of Alice Spencer. Her confident stage presence ensures Alice by Heart is in good hands. Rarely leaving the stage, she handles the story and character with poise, stamina, and professionalism - an absolute delight.

Ella Marree as Tabatha/Cheshire Cat was equal parts mysterious and wondrous. A vocal standout (of a cast all vocally incredible) my jaw was on the floor during each of her performances. In particular ‘Some Things Fall Away’ ensured you could hear a pin drop in the silence between lyrics, Marree played every note with clarity, expression and lyricism.

A formidable presence, Emma Erdis' Queen of Hearts absolutely shone as the antagonist. Their powerful delivery of ‘Isn't it a Trial’ raised goosebumps on the necks of the audience, with incredible manipulation of vocal styles, registers, and riffs. With slides for days, their ownership of everything from vocal performance to characterisation and stage presence was bold and powerful, the true Queen of our Hearts.

Kaitlin Evans as White Rabbit/Alfred brought melancholy realism to Ford's punchy precociousness. Evans had the audience holding their breath on multiple occasions, with stunning singing throughout the show. I would not begrudge you tears in ‘Another Room In Your Head’. This lilting duet married two stunning voices with Evans and Ford striking perfect harmonies, the longing and love between characters at the forefront.

Alice by Heart - Photography By B'rit Creative

A larger-than-life personality, Jack Barrett's slapstick drag performance as The Duchess (and Dodgy) was hilarious. Nobody could accuse Barrett of lackluster performance with voice and gesture filling the space effortlessly. While this character is intended to be enormously loud and crass (which were performed incredibly well) Barrett found moments to imbue the dialogue with true emotional resonance and connection.

Doctor, jabberwocky, mock turtle: Campbell Briggs has range and he stretches it to the limit in this production. His perfect comedic timing had the audience in stitches. Switching from rumbling Baritone to humorous falsetto on a whim, he was a delight to watch.

August Cocks masterfully portrayed the duality of Harold Pudding and the Mad Hatter. Harold's response to the trauma in 'England' was exaggerated in 'Wonderland' as the Mad Hatter, both characters reflecting a man driven to madness by war. The audience empathized with Harold, but perhaps even more with the Mad Hatter, trapped in his own chaos. Cocks' performance was a blend of chaos and calm, highlighted by his exceptional vocal work.

As Nigel Dormouse William Thomas' strategic and intentional use of meek characterisation distinguished his unique character amongst a group of very large personalities. Incredibly versatile and engaging throughout the production, as Dormouse in 'Sick to Death of Alice-ness' and as Knave of Clubs in 'Manage your Flamingo' Thomas' versatility, range, and voice shone.

Anna Ryan's incredible alto voice brought warmth and an eerie strangeness to the Caterpillar. With deliberate and intentional characterisation she manipulated both vocal challenge of the lower register and choreography with ease. Her powerful stage presence in 'Chillin' the Regrets' was haunting and enigmatic. She leaned into the manipulative teasing nature of the character, with great onstage chemistry with Ford.

Delilah Bennett is an engaging performer, full of expression. Her cheeky characterisation as Clarissa/ Queen of Diamonds was a welcome uplift in a relatively melancholy story. Her well-timed one-liners were delivered with confidence and poise, and she displayed such versatility playing so many roles throughout the story. Bennett's sweet voice blended beautifully in the ensemble, and she has a natural knack for harmonies.

Special mention to Ammi Johnson and Fraser Goodried who played Young Alice and Young Alfred beautifully. Wonderfully professional performances from two talented young people who fully committed to the story.

Alice by Heart - Photography By B'Rit Creative

There is something truly special that happens when artists are given the freedom to create with trust, passion, and joy, and this production captures that magic effortlessly. Every moment pulses with pride and purpose, wrapping the audience in something deeply felt. Alice By Heart is not just a title, but a truth: this is theatre made with heart in every sense. 

A must see from me 💜

Rhona