Dive into the wonderful world of Alice and friends at the V&A's fabulously beautiful new show. Get ready for a mind-bending theatrical extravaganza.
Can you believe Alice first fell down that infamous rabbit hole over 150 years ago. This show is the ultimate celebration of her and everything she stands for. At a vast 12,000 sq ft we could have stayed for hours.
Written by Charles Dodgson, under his pen name of Lewis Carol, Alice's Adventures have never been out of print. The real Alice was only five when she first met Dodgson and it was during a boating trip in Oxford with her sisters that Dodgson improvised the story that would become Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
The first exhibition hall is packed with wonderful illustrations, books and artefacts explaining how Dodgson came up with the idea of Alice. There's a dodo skeleton, magic lantern slides, a giant tea-pot and a superb Victorian kalaedescope.
The remainder of the exhibition is an immersive theatrical delight with huge scale installations including a giant colour-changing grinning Cheshire Cat, a swirling watery rabbit hole and a psychedelic crockery laden tea-table complete with tumbling chairs.
There's a huge amount of art too with early drawings by John Tenniel, prints by Peter Blake, vintage posters, Salvador Dali sketches and Walt Disney illustrations. With costumes from the National Theatre and the Royal Opera House, plus couture dresses it's a visual feast.
We loved the VR Hedgehog Croquet. Drink the shrinking potion before embarking on a wondrous game of hedgehog hurling croquet. Bat away the neon pink flamingos and swipe away the psychedelic mushrooms as they fly towards you in this fantastical landscape. Solve the riddles and answer the challenges before escaping the angry house of cards. Be prepared to feel a little dizzy as you tumble down the rabbit hole. Ages 12+
Look out for the White Rabbit hiding throughout the exhibition - pick up their family friendly paper trail before you head into the exhibition.
There are heaps of interactive to keep little fingers amused. With a hall of mirrors, a giant mushroom to spin around and peep shows to peer into it will keep little minds whirring for hours.
This is bringing learning to life on an epic scale with the book taking centre stage.
Supporting creativity and craft in all its form we think this is the hot ticket for children and adults alike. Nonsense, eccentricity and heaps of British wonderfulness - just what the Doctor ordered after months of cultural starvation. It's good for the soul.
Opening 22 May
Tickets from £20, U12s free.
Julia Colls 19 May 2021
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