Curiouser and curiouser…don’t you agree?

A theatrical experience with a difference. Dining with Alice served up an enchanting Victorian feast in the grounds of a manor house.

Over eight nights, guests were served a four-course meal outdoors by a team of turban-wearing volunteers. Imaginatively-named dishes including ‘Mock Turtle Soup’ and ‘The Pie of Hearts’ were on the menu, specially created by Bompas & Parr in association with students from City College Norwich.

Transported into Lewis Caroll’s imaginary world, this immersive piece of theatre brought unexpected moments from well-loved characters: Alice running through the trees; the screaming Queen of Hearts; the anxious White Rabbit. The performance culminated at nightfall with a musical finale under the stars. An epic production in a beautiful setting, Dining With Alice turned audiences into honoured guests and breathed new life into a literary classic.

Part of the Sky Arts Artichoke Season. Produced in collaboration with Norfolk & Norwich Festival. 

Dining With Alice
Dining with Alice, 2011. Directed by Hilary Westlake. Produced by Artichoke for Norfolk & Norwich Festival. Part of the Sky Arts Artichoke season. Photo by Sophie Laslett.

Dining With Alice Statistics

  • Number of waiters

    44 Volunteers and 20 Project Apprentices

  • Bottles of wine drunk

    1,152

  • Age range of volunteer waiters

    17 to 81 years

  • Number of guests

    2,000

  • Size of the Elsing Hall Estate

    20 acres

"Lewis Carroll's surreal world came to vivid life as the Red Queen and the Duchess squabbled and chased each other around the diners, the White Rabbit hopped in and out… Dinner was a gourmet delight…"

~ Audience member ~