• James Doy MNZM, Chief Executive and Musical Supervisor, National Youth Theatre
  • Joseph Wolfkamp and Kaitlyn Darroch

The Little Umbrella season of 'Alice: A Wonderland Musical'

Channel Mag's Liz Cannon chats with James Doy MNZM, and two of the cast members, Kaitlyn Darroch and Joseph Wolfkamp.

CMag: Tell us about the National Youth Theatre's 'Alice: A Wonderland Musical'.
James Doy: I had the honour of receiving my MNZM from Her Excellency the Governor General last month, and at the end of the ceremony, premiered some songs from 'Alice' on the piano at Government House. Hopefully, that bodes well for our season! This is our second original full-length musical. The advantage of that is that we knew we could do it. The drawback is that we have to make it as good as the first one! I reckon we’ve met that challenge, and I hope everyone struggles to get the tunes out of their heads as much as I do. My kids are in it as well, which makes it an extra special experience for me. It’s surreal hearing them sing my songs in the car on the way to auditions; at some point, they stop being mine and take on a life of their own. Their school, Beach Haven, is coming to the show, so the pressure is on!

When looking for inspiration for our next show, it was hard to go past the gloriously whacky world offered by Lewis Carroll’s much-loved tales 'Alice In Wonderland' and 'Alice Through The Looking Glass'. A cast of fabulous characters populating a richly imagined world is the dream treasure chest for a creative team. Alice brings life, wonderment and dreaming to the page and the stage, as she journeys through time and space searching for sense amongst the chaos. She’s a girl on a mission in a world of different rules, different hats and warring factions working out who they are and who they want to be, with sister Bea not far behind. We’ve teased out Carroll’s marvellous language and nonsensical narrative with some inventiveness of our own, to develop a story for all ages crafted around 25 original songs which we hope honour both the spirit and the substance of the original work. It’s been a joyous journey bringing this eccentricity to theatrical life in a brand new musical written specially for the National Youth Theatre. We can’t wait to share it with you all.

Our cast – all 250 of them – are phenomenal! I’ve genuinely written the songs I wanted to write, and they’re performing them as well as any professional cast I’ve worked with over the years. I’m so looking forward to seeing them all shine on stage.

Here’s what our Artistic Director Jonathan Alver says the audience can expect: “A grumpy queen, some strawberry tarts, a smiley cat, a handmade hat, some Tweedle twins, a broken watch and a very tardy rabbit. Teacups, chessboards, dodos, turtles, big and small, it’s got them all!"

Liz chats with Kaitlyn Darroch, 16 (Alice and ensemble, TGS) and Joseph Wolfkamp, 17 (Maddie and ensemble, Rosmini College)

How would you describe your experience as an NYT cast member?
KD: The NYT community is like a family. I’ve been doing NYT since 2018 when I was in 'Shrek' as a 10-year-old. It allowed me to develop my skills in a supportive, welcoming environment. Every production pushes me to grow as a performer.
JW: I thoroughly enjoy it! It's such an inviting and fun environment full of wonderful young performers sharing their passion for musical theatre and working together to create great shows. It has been an incredible opportunity for me over the past few years to be able to develop my skills to perform to the best of my ability.

What has been the biggest challenge of learning a brand-new musical?
KD: Finding my own interpretation of Alice while learning a brand-new score and story. Since it’s an original musical, there’s no existing 'blueprint' to follow. But that also makes it really exciting!
JW: Having no existing material. With other productions, you can familiarise yourself with the songs before the rehearsal process begins. So the challenge for us all is to bring the vision of this show to life for the first time.

What has been a highlight of the 'Alice' rehearsal process?
KD: Creating the world of wonderland with my fellow cast-mates. Being a part of the original cast feels like a dream - I get to watch this show change and flourish alongside us in the process.
JW: Seeing the new and unique takes on the classic characters everyone knows and loves. For me, Maddie the Hatter has been re-imagined in this production and will be portrayed in a new and magical way. I cannot wait to see all these characters continue to be brought to life in the rehearsal room and on stage.

What is your favourite thing about NYT?
KD: The community. I’ve made so many friendships that I’ve maintained in and outside of the show. Everyone is supportive of each other through the ups and downs of rehearsals and show week.
JW: The people. None of the magic we create onstage would be possible without the cast and the creative and backstage teams during theatre week. Everyone is so important in the process of making these shows come to life on stage. They are kind and caring, always looking out for each other, whenever and wherever they are.

Why should people come to see 'Alice: A Wonderland Musical'?
KD: Because it’s unlike any version of Alice they’ve seen before! The title may be familiar but the music, choreography, story and characters bring a fresh twist to the tale. It’s a great opportunity to see youth talent shine.
JW: Because it will be like nothing anyone has seen before. With a new script and songs, this show takes you on a journey through wonderland with many exciting surprises along the way. This show is filled with magic and a bit of madness, so make sure you are not late for a very important date! See you on 30 November - 1 December!


Issue 158 November 2024