The world’s best cirque performers will descend on Sydney this week as they star in the Sydney premiere of Cirque Alice, opening at Coliseum Theatre on 24 December.
The two-hour spectacular will star Newcastle-born rising star and soprano Layla Schillert (Australian Idol) in the titular role of Alice, singing iconic classical songs as she takes audiences down the rabbit hole this Christmas and explores the four corners of her wonderland.
The unforgettable characters and antics in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland are ripe for mind-bending group acrobatic acts. Fresh from making it to the semi-finals on this year’s America’s Got Talent, Cirque du Soleil show-stealers The TT Boys will leave everyone speechless as they flip and fly as Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum.
America’s Got Talent 2024 grand final contestants, The Ramadhani Brothers will appear as the Red and White Knights, with their head-to-head balancing act sure to have the whole theatre on the edge of their seats.
Mongolian contortionists Munkhchimeg Munkh-Erdene, Delgerbayar Tseveensuren, Baigalmaa Chuluun and Dolgorsuren Ganbold will bamboozle as the reimagined Caterpillar. Their four bodies twist and bend forming an optical illusion depicting that of the caterpillar in all its glory and wisdom.
The show will also feature comedy magician Paul Dabek (Cirque Du Soleil, The Illusionists) who leads audiences on a riotous and riddle-filled adventure as The Mad Hatter, Viktor Hladchenko as The March Hare in the Cyr Wheel, Munguntsatsrag Naranbaatar hand-balancing as The Queen of Hearts, Peruvian Estuart Mena Gonzales on the rola bola as The Dormouse, duo aerial act Emilie Odette and Joann Jerome (Cirque Du Soleil) as The Flying Flamingos, Daniel Monni and Marina Sabetta as the roller-skating Royals and Daniel Schwarz on aerial pole as the Snap-dragon fly.
From 24 December, the epic new show by creators of The Illusionists, Tim Lawson (TML Enterprises) and Simon Painter (Painter Productions), Cirque Alice, reimagines Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
Creative Producer Simon Painter said the Cirque Alice cast featured some of the most elite circus performers on earth: “When we were creating this show we were looking for two things: who is the very best in the world, and what acts best personify the characters from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. The choice of The TT Boys as Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee was obvious, as they will bring this extremely energetic and quirky act that is known as Icarian Games; while The Queen of Hearts is a very strong domineering character who needs to do something extraordinary like we’ll see in Munguntsatsrag Naranbaatar’s hand-balancing act.”
The all-new soundtrack is by Norwegian composers Marius Christiansen and Martin Olsen with live accompaniment by virtuoso violinist Darius Thompson (Choir of Man West End), and features remixes of classical favourites like Flight of the Bumblebee, the Flower Duet, Für Elise and more.
Ash Jacks McCready and Kirsty Painter are steering the ship as Creative Directors, with costumes by Angela Aaron and puppets by the Olivier® Award-winning Unit 9 and stunning lighting design by Hugo Mercier.
Choreography is by the award-winning Dane Bates, with Australian dancers Charlie Danilczack, Kaylee Smith, Lexie Calis, Gabriel Herrera and Lachlan Greenland luring the audience through Wonderland.
Richard Errington, CEO, West HQ, said, “We’re thrilled to welcome the spectacular Cirque Alice to Coliseum Theatre. Sydney’s west has never seen a circus performance quite like this. It’s a rare opportunity to experience this combination of world-class acrobatics, incredible vocals and larger-than-life costuming right here in our own backyard, and we couldn’t be more excited to host such extraordinary talent.”
Following sell out seasons in Brisbane and Singapore, the show entices audiences down the rabbit hole, with an awe-inspiring set and immersive on-stage cabaret seating putting guests at the heart of the action as performers soar above the stage of Coliseum Theatre.
CIRQUE ALICE
Sydney from 24 Dec – strictly limited season
Tickets start at $69 plus booking fees – book online here.
Adelaide from 8 Jan 2026
Canberra from 22 Jan 2026
