Tatenda Matsvai talks upcoming musical ‘Alice In Wonderland’: “Every character you meet in this show you could so easily meet in the streets of Brixton”

Lewis Carroll’s all-time classic puts the revisionist hat on with the return of the acclaimed fringe musical adaptation, taking the beloved story into a contemporary setting as it brings the fantasy to very heart of South London. Guillermo Nazara chats with this season’s lead actress, to learn all the fun facts about her performance – as well as a show that’s guaranteed to feel mad-nificent.

How does it feel to be the new lead in the first-ever return of this multi-award-winning production?

Thrilling. I loved the last production so much, so to be stepping into the big big shows of the last cast feels like an honour to be honest. I’m sure we’ve put our own stamp on it that will sizzle in a new and exciting way.

Does the hype of the original run make your job as a performer more daunting?

I try my hardest not to think about ‘the hype’ and focus on the buzz and ecosystem we’re cooking in the room. The rest of the cast is so brilliant that I have no doubt that audiences are going to fall in love with our version of this gorgeous show. Our director, Jack, told us from day one that he was interested in seeing what we bring to the role – and I think that makes it much less daunting when you’re not living in comparison, but really feel supported to find something new. I’m thankful for that trust, it’s engendered so much playful experimentation that I think audiences are going to dig.

What kind of Wonderland will Alice be exploring in this adaptation?

Well, the rabbit hole Alice falls down is the depths of the London Underground following a very, very busy rabbit. As we follow Alice through the seemingly never-ending topsy turvy worlds of the underground train carriages, we meet some familiar faces from the book and some truly strange and wonderful new ones. It feels so much more grounded in the reality of contemporary London pre-teen from Brixton than Lewis Carroll’s pastoral tea party world – and for that, I’m deeply grateful.  It also feels like the adventure I would’ve daydreamed about going on when I was young, to be honest I love going on this adventure now as an adult.

As a character, what do you think makes this version of Alice unique, in comparison to others?

I think this Alice is dealing with something more crystallized than past iterations of Alice. The thing driving the story is the life she has above ground. How hard her first term of secondary school has been, and how her and her mum are dealing with the growing pains of their relationship as she starts exiting adolescence. There’s so much to hold onto in this version of Alice. Yes, she can still be very bossy, and loves the rules – but that’s because she’s a little shy and desperate to get back to her mum. It feels more grounded.

What about your own take on the role? What have you brought into the portrayal of the character?

I’ve definitely tapped back into my stroppy, mischievous pre-teen playfulness to find the energy of Alice. And that position of wonder and amazement that comes with being so young. Everything new is exciting or world altering, so all of the stakes sky rocket, so I’m really trying to breathe that into the character, and pitch it to sustainable heights. I think Alice is a bit of an anime nerd and loves action movies and you see a lot of that in her desire to play out these epic fantasies once she’s finally game with the strangeness of Wonderland. 

Have you used any previous interpretations of the story as part of your rendition?

I haven’t, really. We’ve actually been inspired by Spider Man into the Spider verse and Spirited Away, so Miles and Chihiro have deffo been the inspirations for this interpretation of the show. There’s a comic book aesthetic that blends into a magical surrealism that I think contemporary audiences will really latch on to.

Are there any other particular challenges you find in this role?

The biggest one is breathing: Alice doesn’t really leave the stage – she’s on pretty much for the full 1hr 30 something charging through scenes. So getting used to that pace, and the demands physically and vocally of sustaining that for this run, has been the biggest challenge. 

In which way, would you say, this show will reflect and resonate with the Brixton community?

I think how Alice sees Brixton will resonate with  how many members of the community see it. On the best of days Brixton is bustling with culture, community and excitement. There’s endless things to do and Alice is at that age where she’s simultaneously overwhelmed and excited by all the options, which files her love of where she’s from. And I think that can and will resonate with the community of Brixton well. Also there’s a big old shout out to Electric Avenue and many of the iconic cultural spaces in Brixton that make up big threads of the cultural tapestry. I’d also go as far to say that every character you meet in this show you could so easily meet in the streets of Brixton so hopefully audiences will recognise themselves or people they know in the show.

Why come see Alice In Wonderland?

It’s a brilliant show that will thrill audiences from ages 0-100. If you want a fun, fizzy and festive night of theatre, Alice is a show you shouldn’t miss. Whether you loved the book or have never and would never read Alice in Wonderland, this adaptation will convince you that Alice’s story is one we all need to see today. From the brilliantly penned raps to audacious staging, Alice is an unmissable night at the theatre.

Production pictures credit to Helen Murray.

Alice In Wonderland plays at London’s Brixton House until 4 January. Tickets are available on the following link.

By Guillermo Nazara