Cirque Alice Review: Magic, Music & Gravity-Defying Stunts Set In A Fantastical Wonderland

By Zoe Zeng on 13 Oct 2025

One of my close friends is obsessed with Lewis Carroll's classic tale Alice in Wonderland. It's her favourite fairytale ever and she can't get enough of the spin-offs, live-action adaptations, plus all the merch. Why? "It's just so relatable," she says. And that's exactly what Cirque Alice serves up to its spellbound audience at the show's Asia premiere, here in Singapore's Marina Bay Sands Theatres.

Conjured up by the creators of CIRQUE DU SOLEIL’S Mad Apple and Broadway sensation The Illusionists, this spectacle is quite different from the traditional circus experience. Showgoers can expect to be blown away by a superb cast of acrobatic performers, aerialists, contortionists, dancers, musicians and comedic artists from all around the world—but also by the immersive staging, seamless transitions and lovely plotline.

Read on for our detailed review of Cirque Alice!

The Experience

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

One of our fave parts of the entire show was the stage itself. Instead of the usual setup where viewers watch from the front, Cirque Alice has a round, elevated stage that acts as its circus ring. The first couple of rows, the Ring VIP Table (4 Seats) seats, are actually seated on the stage surrounding the ring! This nearly 360-degree view gives it an extra immersive touch and adds depth to many scenes, like the ones where new performers enter through the arch and walk down the 'garden path'.

Photo from BASE Entertainment

The show's protagonist Alice, armed with fantastic vocals and a lovely take on the iconic blue dress, takes the audience on a journey down the rabbit hole. She's the only one who speaks throughout the show, expediting the self-insert process as viewers follow along.

However, just like the team of dancers who glide their way through myriad ethereal costumes, Alice is more of a guide than the actual star of the show. That honour goes to the rest of the Cirque cast, who deliver jaw-dropping performances while dressed as various characters from Wonderland.

Show Highlights

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

That being said, not all Cirque Alice acts were created equal: the pair performers had my heart beating out of my chest from stress and anxiety, in the best possible way. Have you ever seen a performance that left you actually sweating in worry, afraid to breathe too loudly lest you disturb those onstage? That was exactly what watching this was like. Those stunning acts of skill and strength displayed by the strongmen pairs, an aerial acrobat duo, and a roller skating duo were so impressive, I ended up raving about them to my colleagues and friends afterwards.

Also high on my list is the daring (mouse?) performer who balances himself on a board atop a pile of mismatched, rolling parts. Ugh, my stomach was also feeling all sorts of mismatched and rolling whenever he came a bit too close to taking a very, very long tumble down the stack. Certainly not something anyone should ever try at home, but it left me on the edge of my seat for sure.

Magic and music

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

Of course, it wouldn't be a Cirque without some magic and wonder. The team of contortionists had me lamenting my lack of flexibility and coordination, while the ultra-bendy Queen of Hearts sent a few spikes of secondhand back pain just watching her near-inhuman twisting and warping act. There's also an amazing juggling act, which really took my understanding of multi-tasking to a whole new level… Special mention: the rabbit-man in a huge hula hoop that goes round and round? Mesmerising.

Photo from BASE Entertainment

Perhaps not as instrument-al to the excitement for other viewers, but very impressive to me nonetheless, was the White Rabbit who accompanied many a perilous act on his violin. Talk about bringing a tiny violin to a gunfight! As a violinist myself, his live playing was extremely masterful and virtually flawless—I certainly could not imagine staying calm enough to play Flight of the Bumblebee at any point of the show!

On the comedic front, the shockingly hilarious Mad Hatter ringmaster has it covered (no promises that he stays covered during the show, though) with tear-inducing slapstick humour, fresh spins on sleight-of-hand tricks and pure buffoonery. Fair warning: enjoyers of intelligent humour may experience some distress in the face of the underwear-related laughs coming their way.

Verdict

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

All in all, if you're seeking a good bit of pure entertainment to brighten up your evenings, Cirque Alice will have you impressed, shocked, delirious with laughter, and then dizzy with the thrill of its gravity-defying acts. Not necessarily in that order. Sounds like enough fun for an entire night and more to me!

Best of all, the Cirque Alice team does an impressive job at making the whole experience feel welcoming, warm, and less dangerous-mystery-set-in-a-foreign-land (read: Tim Burton's 2010 film Alice In Wonderland) than a whimsical, exciting adventure with the lingering flavour of a summertime daydream.

And that's no wonder, because at its core, behind all the magic and madness, Alice in Wonderland is a very relatable tale. After all, who hasn't felt at least a bit out of place, lost, crazy, and like the entire world has turned upside down? As the Cheshire Cat is prone to say: "Darling, we're all mad here!" So if that's your type of scene, don't wait to catch the show!