ZooNation dance company is presenting its adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s tale Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, entitled The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party. The production aims to raise awareness of mental health issues and to question the idea of what is deemed normal. The show depicts the characters suffering from various challenges such as anorexia, body dysmorphia, borderline personality disorder (BPD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
The production incorporates a doctor character, played by Tommy Franzen, who is an expert in “normalisation”. The show follows his journey as he gradually challenges his black-and-white perspective and understands the complexity of people’s behaviour. The production employs different musical styles, artists, and influences to accentuate each character’s unique musical motif.
Kate Prince, the choreographer, and founder of ZooNation believes the production will encourage necessary discussions about mental health. According to the charity Mind, the number of young people struggling with their mental health has doubled since 2017, and it is essential to provide conversations around the subject. Jennifer Walters, the executive director of social change at mental health charity Mind, notes that the arts can help young people talk about and support their mental health.
The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party will be at the Royal Opera House Linbury Theatre from 4-24 September 2024, and the dance company offers industry-led workshops for schools, communities, and educational groups who want to learn more about the creative processes, choreography and the show’s characters. It is hoped that the production will help those who struggle with mental health challenges to feel liberated and to encourage necessary discussions around mental health
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