London School of Musical Theatre – Alice by Heart

Picture: Steve Gregson

Alice by Heart is performed by two casts of London School of Musical Theatre students at the Bridewell Theatre, London until 2 May 2025.

Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

What a delight to finally catch a musical I had been wanting to see for years so stylishly and confidently produced with such an impressive cast of young musical theatre performers. The London School of Musical Theatre has built a sterling reputation for its annual musical presentations, and this staging of Alice by Heart is exemplary.

The show is a dark retelling of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, told against a backdrop of young people taking cover in Second World War London. As Alice Spencer’s dear friend Alfred gets sicker and weaker from the effects of tuberculosis, she recites Lewis Carroll’s stories to cope. Like in The Wizard of Oz, the people around them become characters in the Wonderland fantasy.

When staged Off-Broadway, Alice By Heart was met with a mixed reception from US critics. Though reviewers praised its energetic score (by Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater who had previously worked on Spring Awakening), they felt the book (by Sater and Jessie Nelson) blurred the lines between fantasy and reality and as a result was confusing. However, as presented here, there is no such confusion. For one, the work of Carroll is virtually required reading for all children in the UK, but perhaps more importantly than that: with this young cast and the fantastic direction of Shaun Kerrison, the central conceit makes a lot more sense.

LSMT has such a wealth of performing talent that there are two casts alternating performances. The show attended by this reviewer featured the ‘Red Roses Company’.

Carrying much of the weight of the show is Welsh singer-songwriter Kiah Lindsay as Alice. Her skill in depicting the character’s evolution over the course of the narrative is truly impressive, with her voice delicate at first, before showing off an incredible emotional range as the story develops. She harmonises beautifully, particularly with Nathanael Hodgkiss as her beloved friend Alfred/White Rabbit. In Hodgkiss is another incredibly strong singer whose natural comfort onstage is absolutely West End-worthy.

Of the supporting roles, it is perhaps the joyously pantomime villainy of the Queen of Hearts that is the most pure fun. The superb Caroline Browne elevates the role still further with a stage-dominating performance, and her vocals in ‘Isn’t It a Trial’ provide the musical highlight of the show.

Stalking the stage and gantries is Maria Doyle as the iconic Cheshire Cat, who not only brings warmth and humour to proceedings, but also brings the house down with her performance of ‘Some Things Fall Away’. Another role where over-the-top is by no means a bad thing is the Mad Hatter, which Mitchell Walsh attacks with a gloriously un-self-conscious stage presence and natural flair.

While the Mad Hatter strays close to scary, the commendably committed Liam Behan’s Jabberwock brings full-on twisted horror to proceedings. These darker elements are balanced ably by the hilarious James Small as the Duchess, Johnae Tucker and Jessica Kavanagh as subversive caterpillars, and Rosanna Roscoe, Ellie Williams, Mitchie Edgecombe and Faith Elizabeth Hardy as various degrees of Mock Turtle. In fact, this cast is remarkable for not containing a single weak link, rounded out by Alicia Dean, Melissa Redman and Archie Watkins bringing heart and undeniable talent to various other characters.

The acting performances are impressive enough, but with an absolutely rockin’ band under the musical direction of Dave Rose, flawless sound and lighting design from David Beckham and Adam King respectively, dynamic and stage-filling choreography by Taylor Walker, and creative and stunning set and costume design by Anthony Lamble, this is a showcase of phenomenal new talent that should not be missed. Not only that, but it is a chance to experience Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland like never before. Get yourself down the rabbit hole to Bridewell Theatre as soon as you can – and don’t be late.

Ian Bowkett