Review: ZOONATION: THE MAD HATTER'S TEA PARTY, Royal Ballet And Opera

It's not often one comes across theatre that's transformative; but when you do, you know. Case in point: ZooNation’s The Mad Hatter's Tea Party. Mental health isn’t the easiest subject to talk about. If you don’t - it’s a problem, but if you do in the wrong way, it’s probably an even bigger issue!

But ZooNation's artistic director Kate Prince has more than succeeded in her mission; bringing the complex matter to the theatre and treating it with the utmost respect, without losing the imperative humour and realism of life.

ZooNation first premiered The Mad Hatter's Tea Party in 2014, and it’s back for a limited three week run at the Royal Ballet & Opera’s Linbury Theatre. The Royal Ballet will stage Christopher Wheeldon’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (2011) this autumn and next summer on the main stage, so the whole house will be feeling the gibberish nature of Lewis Carroll’s 1871 novel Through the Looking-Glass for a while to come. 

Prince follows the company’s tried and tested format with the production; creating the choreography in collaboration with the original cast members, and working with her regular musical associates Josh Cohen and DJ Walde on the original score. And I have to say - the music is out of this world. Diverse, vivid, emotive, evocative…I could go on! And all brought even more alive by the numerous singers and DJs featured in the live show.

ZooNation is a company “strongly influenced by hip hop culture and music”, but in some ways this doesn't even matter. As what Prince does is more profound than labels or genres; she brings stories to life, makes narrative tangible, and takes the audience on a journey that nobody can resist.

Of course she isn't alone in this magical experience, as there's a cast of talented artists that beggar belief. Dancers, actors, singers, musicians and narrators all in one, they imbue the life force that good theatre can be.

The setting for Prince's reading of Carroll’s novel is a dysfunctional institution where we get to meet all of the well known characters. The premise is clear from the beginning: here is a tale as old as time, good versus evil, people misunderstood, ostracised, and the consequent cycle of toxicity repeats. Will the ending offer an element of resolution or understanding?

Prince introduces each character through their own musical number, where they get to explain who they are, how they struggle, and potentially why. And this is the bit that got me - as just when you think you're in the midst of some extremely, high-level entertainment it hits you like a truck. These people are all struggling with significant mental illnesses, and the production isn't shying away from the seriousness of the issues discussed. Now that's good theatre. Not in denial, not overselling, rather honest, laid bare communication.

As for the choreography: just wow. It doesn't stop serving. Offering all you'd expect from the vibrant culture that is hip-hop, to the inclusion of aggressive-in-style tango, lindy hop, jive and movement characterisation that can't be applauded enough.

The end of the first half sees the characters/patients leave their incarceration for Wonderland, which happens to be a tea party in some idyllic glade. Here we see healing take place, largely through dance, and the presence of evil, in the form of physicians, trumped by the power of good and collective cohesion.

There's so much one can take from the show at different levels; the accessible joy of the dance to the deeper meanings of the metaphors and overarching subject matter. The addition of well balanced, informative narration throughout takes the production to even higher levels of accessibility and enjoyment.

This is a fine example of what the Royal Ballet & Opera should be doing, and does so well when realised: collaboration and the platforming of the highest standard of work around. The Mad Hatter's Tea Party may be 10 years old, but I feel confident in saying it's going to be fresher tomorrow than it was today. Huge respect to Kate Prince, ZooNation and all involved. The house was buzzing!

The Mad Hatter's Tea Party runs at Royal Ballet and Opera until September 24

Photo credit: Foteini Christofilopoulou

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