Alice in a Chorleywood Wonderland (From Watford Observer)

Alice in a Chorleywood Wonderland

2:20pm Friday 18th December 2009

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Cartoon capers and original musical numbers mark Talkwood Productions’ adaptation of Alice In Wonderland, which comes to Chorleywood Memorial Hall this Christmas.

Talkwood is the brainchild of Josh Sills and Tom Barton, both in their early 20s, who have worked behind the scenes on West End productions including Rain Man, The Woman In Black, Fiddler on the Roof, and various productions at The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

For the show, Talkwood has commissioned composer Patrick Rufey, head of music at Amersham & Wycombe College, to create several high energy songs which have been worked into spectacular dance rounties by choreographer Victoria Parrish.

Josh, who attended Chorleywood Primary and St Clement Danes School, tells me that when it came to looking for dancers he headed straight for The Carol Kristian Theatre School where he first trained.

Josh says: “I did dance and drama from the age of five. Patrick and I had classes together and we’ve known each other for 17 years. I now teach drama there. The theatre school has such a talented pool of performers we’ve been able to cast two teams of eight children aged seven to 14 to work alongside the adults.”

Josh went on to Mountview to study stage management and directing before heading to the West End for practical experience, which has given him a shrewd business sense. While he and Tom get Talkwood off the ground, he will continue to work for other companies but with a view to getting together a repertoire of original shows to tour, of which Alice in Wonderland will be the first.

“We chose to do Alice In Wonderland because there are hundreds of pantos on, and for us, as a new company that’s only been formed for a year, trying to compete with big budget shows just wouldn’t work. Also, it’s an easier show to adapt using our own music.

“It’s a fantastic story with some really great characters that are loud and in your face. We want to capture the fun of the Mad Hatter and March Hare and have given a new slant on the Queen of Hearts. It’s a fast-moving show that’s a bit like a cartoon with lots of slapstick and visual gags so it’s suitable for any age.”

Alice in Wonderland is at Chorleywood Memorial Hall, from December 23 to January 1. Tickets: 01895 237671 or from Chorleywood Bookshop (£10-£12)

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