Around 150 youngsters from Winchester Theatre Arts have taken to the stage to perform Alice in Wonderland at Eastleigh’s Rose Theatre.
It’s the first time the school have been able to perform in more than two years, with the pandemic disrupting the usually annual event.
Winchester Theatre Arts has provided singing, dancing and acting lessons for 45 years, with many taking place in its base at the Jubilee Hall in Kings Worthy.
Thousands of youngsters from the Worthys and beyond have passed through its doors and several have taken up performing arts careers including on the West End stage. Others still support the organisation by helping backstage at the shows.
Winchester Theatre Art performances have become known for their colourful costumes, great choreography and abundance of talent and this year’s extravaganza of Alice in Wonderland was no different.
The performances had taken many hours of rehearsals and months of preparation by the team of volunteers and teachers especially director, scriptwriter and choreographer Laura Goodwin.
This was the 10th show for Erin Neal who played Alice and it was the last show for a number of the students before heading off to university.
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Freya Murchison, who played the Mad Hatter, said: “This year is my 13th and final show. It has been an absolute blast rehearsing with this cast, we’ve all had so much fun every step of the way. I can’t begin to thank everyone enough for the last 13 years, I am beyond grateful for the experiences I’ve had and the friends I’ve made.”
Oliver Gittins, who took on the role of the March Hare, said: “I do tap and jazz, I really enjoy these as I love dance and they help me to express myself. I am so proud of everyone as we have all come so far in only a couple of months. WTA has given me a family and place where I can be myself.”
Alice in Wonderland finished with a rendition of Abba’s “Thank you for the music”, a tradition that’s been held since the school started and an emotional moment for those taking part and family members in the audience.
Earlier this year members of the Winchester Theatre Arts school put on an evening of song and dance from the musicals which raised over £2,000 for the people of Ukraine.
For more information contact: laura@winchestertheatrearts.com.
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