Down The Rabbit Hole – Behind the Scenes: / Wish me Luck!

My cast and creative team are gearing up for the final days of rehearsals. It has been a joy to jump “Down the Rabbit Hole” with them and work out how to reimagine Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.”

The fantastic art photographer, Nick Rutter, captured some moments of our rehearsals last week, and I am thrilled to share them with you. I hope they spark your imagination and entice you to want to find out more.

In the photographs, you can see glimpses of costumes and accessories. This is because our small cast performs a variety of characters, meaning that we need to rehearse the quick changes. Emma Belli, the costume designer, has created a wonderful and whimsy atmosphere with her designs, which have been skillfully brought to life thanks to 2nd-year students at Nottingham Trent University. We had our costume fittings on Tuesday, and I can’t wait to receive the completed looks in the post.

Next week we will visit Prince’s Gardens Preparatory School to perform our Dress Rehearsal with a group of pupils. I am really excited to visit this school, as I work there as a Peripatetic Singing Teacher. I look forward to hearing their feedback on the show and the interactive activities.

Then we will travel to Winsford in Cheshire to perform our first show on Thursday, 9th March, at Over Hall Community School. After that, we will visit Over St Johns C of E Primary School on Friday 10th March. I am sure I will have little purple bruises down my arm by the end of next week from pinching myself, as I can’t believe we are ready to begin the tour of performances. Time has just flown by! Wish us luck!

55 thoughts on “Down The Rabbit Hole – Behind the Scenes: / Wish me Luck!”

  6. I really like the costumes. Simple and effective. Is that George on the piano? The kids will love it.

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    1. Ah its just a little taster of the costumes, I’ll show you more later in the run. Yes George is providing all of the live music for every show, he’s been an absolute rock during the rehearsals.
      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

  8. I may be 6957 KM (4323 miles), away as the crow flies, but I’m always with you in spirit and cheering you on. Give my best to George!

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    1. Will do, he’s been so supportive and busy. Thank you GP.
      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

    1. I read a comment last week that said research shows that luck and chance play a part in determining one’s success, it not all down to just hard work, merit or talent. So just in case they’re right I’m increasing my odds with all your support 😊. Just feeling lucky to know you all.

      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

    1. Thanks Don, some of the schools have asked if Parents can come, if the room is big enough, the more the merrier.

      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

  12. Wishing you all the best and good luck, Charlotte! Looking at and judging by the photographs I’m sure it will be a succes!

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    1. Thank you Herman, we’ve had a full run through today and timed it and the set changes. Final tweaks tomorrow then we’re on the road!

      Best wishes
      Charlotte

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    1. Thank you Maria, final day and a half. I hope you’re well, I’ll catch up with you when the tour is underway.
      Best wishes
      Charlotte

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      2. Thank you again ♥️. The first two days started well although I am exhausted now as I also drove all the team up from London the evening before after our dress rehearsal and the first show was 10am with us setting up at 9am. We are looking forward to a lie in tomorrow as we haven’t had one for weeks now. I hope you have a lovely weekend too.

    1. Thanks Karen, I’m sending you an e-mail later if you can look out for it. 😊
      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

    1. Thank you Annette 😊. My little table broke Friday and it was new! So we’re improvising. I’m waiting on the post for my Alice costume to arrive after a couple of alterations so I’m living on the edge 😉 hehe.

      Best wishes
      Charlotte

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    1. Thank you Derrick, the team have been amazing improvisers. George was still tweaking the composition for the final song and some of the links with the composer Zollino. We are all pushing our horizons, very exciting and now we’re being told we’re going to have snow! Just before all the driving starts on Wednesday, so we’ll be taking our time getting around.

      Best wishes
      Charlotte

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      2. We woke up this morning to a thick blanket of snow ❄️, fortunately the venue wasn’t far from my parents so we made it in good time. Then the sun came out very bright and cleared it all away.

  17. GOOD LUCK!

    This is most exciting! You will succeed.
    I am thrilled for you, Charlotte!

    PS. I had my interview and photo shoot for the article being done on me and my Art Gowns.
    There were lots of poses of me with your Art Gown in progress. I hope they use one of those. They asked if I could reveal your name. I said Yes, did, and told them about you.

    Opening night CHEERS!
    Resa ❦❦
    (tweeting this!)

    Reply

    1. Oh this is most exciting for you. I’m thrilled you had your photo shoot and article, and I’m super glad they got to see my gown in progress I can’t wait! You are too kind. I can’t wait to share some more of our photos with you all. Especially my Alice costume. The children are absolutely loving the caterpillar and the cake costumes, and George’s mad hatter costume suits him so well, his mad hatter is very eccentric and loves playing piano! Its his first time acting as well as playing all the music throughout the hour. I’m loving being on the tour with him. I just wish we’d have had the funds for a cello too or percussion but we have introduced a glockenspiel (I had to teach myself quickly) and some bells and tube chimes.
      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

      1. George, the Mad Hatter pianist, sounds like a winner.
        I so look forward to seeing pics of the costumes, and whatever you have taken & will take of the performances.
        The cake and caterpillar sound exciting.
        I quite like the glockenspiel. Who knows what the future holds? A cello and percussion might not be that far away.
        It seems like you have been learning a lot!
        For those of us who strive for excellence, learning is a never ending prospect.
        Cheers,
        Resa
        ❦❦❦

    1. Thank you Bruce, we’ve had an amazing start to the tour, the first two schools had all made their hedgehog pom poms for the hedgehog meditation game in the show and had learnt the bsl poem via a video we made, all of the cast have had a lovely reception and a super couple of days.
      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

  20. This is an amazing achievement Charlotte. I remember the sketches of the costumes from an earlier post, and I’m sure you will get a real buzz from performing in them. It looks oodles of fun.

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    1. We’ve completed our first two days, four shows, the children were amazing, you would be so impressed at their involvement, they learnt the bsl poem brilliantly and took part in all the show games with enthusiasm, were superbly behaved and asked the most intelligent questions at the end. I’m proud to be from Winsford.
      Best wishes
      Charlotte

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      2. The children notice everything. A couple were curious why our Cheshire Cat looks like a tabby cat not the Disney pink and purple version lol.

      3. I hope you explained the Cheshire Cat existed long before Walt Disney was even born (hmm maybe not age-appropriate answer). But I was seven when I was gifted my copy of Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass that I still have, and re-read recently. I also have the letter I wrote my aunt thanking her, and telling her what was in it LOL.

      4. I use my childhood copy of the dual book in the show, I always loved the story although I must admit I understand it better now than I did when I first read it hehe. I love that you have your original letter what a lovely keepsake.
        Best wishes
        Charlotte

  21. I am just catching up with you, Charlotte. I love the photos!

    I am unable to “Like” posts from within the WP reader at this time due to some glitch which may be a “liking” policing software one where I have hit some limit within the reader when I am trying to catch up with people. Sorry about that.

    Reply

    1. No problem Lavinia, I had that happen to me on several of my friends blogs. I also had problems leaving comments it kept saying something about Askimet frequently asking me for my sign in and password on every comment or just soaking away the comment with a Nonce warnings, whatever that means. I’m glad you were able to comment and leave your lovely message Lavinia.
      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

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