Carly Bawden will play Alice in Moira Buffini and Damon Albarn’s new Lewis Carroll-inspired musical wonder.land when it opens at the National Theatre next month.
The McQueen star will take over from Olivier Award nominee Rosalie Craig, who played the role in the production’s premiere at Manchester International Festival, for the London run from 23 November to 30 April.
Bawden will play a virtual Alice in the production. It marks the actress’ return to musical theatre following the Menier Chocolate Factory’s critically acclaimed 2013 production of Assassins.
Bawden will be joined in the cast by original cast members Sam Archer, Lois Chimimba, Ivan De Freitas, Anna Francolini, Hal Fowler, Paul Hilton, Daisy Maywood, Enyi Okoronkwo, Golda Rosheuvel, Cydney Uffindell-Phillips and Whitney White.
Appearing in the musical for the first time alongside Bawden will be Leon Cooke (Seven Brides For Seven Brothers, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Nadine Cox (The Sound Of Music, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Adrian Grove (Medea, NT), Joshua Lacey (Everyman, NT), Lisa Ritchie (Singin’ In The Rain, West End), Ed Wade (Dessa Rose, Trafalgar Studio 2), Simon Anthony and Stephanie Rojas.
A coming of age adventure exploring the blurred boundaries between our lives online and off, wonder.land follows Aly (Chimimba) as she struggles with the pressures of being a teenager, until she discovers a mysterious online world that offers the possibility of a whole new life.
Combining live theatre and digital technology, the musical is brought to life on stage by Blur’s Albarn and Handbagged playwright Buffini with direction from the National Theatre’s Director Rufus Norris.
The production will play in the South Bank venue’s Olivier Theatre alongside As You Like It, which stars wonder.land.’s original Alice, Craig, and runs from 26 October to 5 March.