Sydney is having something of a cabaret moment with Come Alive and Velvet Inferno captivating audiences across the city over the past few months. Now, circus-goers have another family-friendly production to feast their eyes on, with Cirque Alice taking over the Sydney Lyric Theatre in the space left by Waitress after its cancellation earlier in the year. The production has played in Queensland before coming to Sydney and will be touring to Manila and London so it felt like a good stop-gap to keep the theatre full. 

At first, the Lyric doesn’t necessarily feel like the natural home for the production as the on-stage seating looks somewhat ungainly and awkward compared with a more traditional cabaret venue, with the sheer size of the theatre creating quite a distance between the performers and the audience. While this is perhaps by necessity given the unique situation of this production, it is perhaps not ideal for a show that relies heavily on its performers’ ability to engage the crowd and has relatively little plot to drive the action forward.

Loosely inspired by Alice in Wonderland, Cirque Alice is ultimately more of a vehicle for its acrobatics and comedy than a traditional narrative show. And while there are moments where the lack of a clear storyline makes the production feel somewhat disjointed, there is plenty here to entertain.

The standout is undoubtedly Paul Dabek as the Mad Hatter. His combination of comedy, puppetry, illusions and audience interaction gives the production a much-needed sense of cohesion and his crowd work is particularly effective, whether joking about not knowing where Marrickville is or bringing some of the most blokey members of the audience onto the stage to reluctantly participate in his games. His illusions are impressive and his puppetry is sublime, with Dabek showing the charisma to keep the show moving whenever the circus elements aren’t quite enough to sustain the momentum.

The acrobatic performers are excellent, with the Ramadhani Brothers being an absolute highlight towards the end of the show, delivering a jaw-dropping balancing act that provides one of the production’s most memorable moments. Veronika Ivanova as the Queen of Hearts is another standout, while the aerialists and wider ensemble all bring plenty of skill and energy to the stage.

What is less clear is exactly who Cirque Alice is aimed at as on the surface, it is very much a family show, with plenty to attract younger audience members, however much of Dabek’s comedy feels distinctly geared towards adults, and as the show progressed, it was hard not to feel that some of the children in the audience were becoming a little lost.

Additionally, Layla Schillert’s Alice struggles at times, with some vocal tonal irregularities and pronunciation issues that occasionally draw attention away from the performance. There also feels like there should be a little more story holding everything together as the songs don’t always feel naturally integrated into the production and, rather than helping to build the world of Alice, can sometimes feel like they have simply been dropped into the circus proceedings. The set also feels relatively low-budget which is understandable for a touring production but the grandeur of the Sydney Lyric Theatre perhaps highlights this more than it would in a smaller venue.

Ultimately, Cirque Alice is an entertaining addition to Sydney’s current appetite for family-friendly cabaret and circus productions, with plenty of awe-inspiring stunts along the way and interesting entertainment. Dabek is the clear star, bringing the comedy and audience interaction that gives the production much of its personality. However, there is also quite a bit of filler, and the show never quite settles on whether it wants to be a children’s circus spectacular or a more adult-style cabaret in a way that Come Alive was so clear. It is certainly fun but how much you get out of Cirque Alice will probably depend on which of those experiences you are looking for.

Rating: ★★★★

Cirque Alice plays at the Lyric Theatre until 11 October 2026. For more information, click here. 

All photo credits: Base Entertainment Asia