Don’t be late for tea at Trades Hall

A CONTEMPORARY one act play inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is coming to Trades Hall for three shows over Saturday, 22 and Sunday, 23 February.

Wondered follows Hatter’s point of view, as he plans to have one last extravagant tea party, but Alice is running late and it’s been years since her last visit to Wonderland.

Writer, Elodie Boal said Hatter’s gathering is set to be madder than any other before and might answer some questions the audience has always ‘wondered.’

“Wondered is an engaging and cerebral piece of theatre that stimulates the darkest parts of the adult imagination,” she said.

The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether by Edgar Allan Poe was also an inspirational piece for Boal.

“A cultural combination of literatures best, Wondered is a reimagined dark fairy tale that tells the untold story of Alice’s final journey to Wonderland,” she said.

“Unlike the original, this work focuses entirely on the neurological impairments and pure insanity that makes up the fictional character, the Mad Hatter.”

Darron Farquhar is portraying the iconic, flamboyant man. He said it may be unexpected, but the play explores loneliness, mental deterioration and resulting social issues.

“It’s been a real challenge to play the role of Hatter,” he said. “There is a gamut of emotions that have been tapped into with the role…

“Hatter’s childlike innocence, the darker sides that emerge unexpectedly, and why is hatter so mad?  Ah, that would be giving the story away.

“Don’t be late for this very important date.”

Wondered will begin its run at 2pm on Saturday, 22 February with another performance at 7pm. All proceeds from Sunday, 23 February’s 2pm performance will be directed to mental health support for victims of the bushfire crisis.

Presented by Dizzy Productions, the play has a running time of 45 minutes and a cast of five. Tickets are available through Majestix via 5333 5888.

Pamphlets for Beyond Blue will be accessible if audience members are impacted by the themes. Ballarat Trades Hall is on Camp Street.