Information Pack (Visual) for

Alice in Wonderland the Panto

By Coolmine Panto Group

On Wednesday 10 Jan 2018 at 7.30pm in Draíocht

www.draiocht.ie

Sensory Friendly Performance at

DRAÍOCHT BLANCHARDSTOWN

Your Visit This pack will help you prepare for your visit to Draíocht. We have put together some pictures to help you understand where you are going and what you will see. Here is a map to help you find us. We are located opposite the Blue Entrance of The Blanchardstown Shopping Centre In between the Library and Leisureplex/TGI Fridays.

Your Visit Here’s what the outside of Draíocht looks like. We have a large colourful picture on the outside of our building. This is where the Panto ‘Alice in Wonderland’ will be performed.

Your Visit Here’s a picture of our Front Door. We go through this to get inside.

Collecting your Tickets Here’s a picture of our Ticket Collection Desk called a Box Office. Just ask for your tickets when you arrive. We will have them waiting for you.

Waiting for the Panto to start Here’s a picture of our Foyer or waiting area. This is where we wait until the Panto is ready to start. There will be other children and families waiting here also. It may be a bit noisy.

Toilets You may need to use the toilets during your visit. Here’s a picture of where our toilets are, near the waiting area or foyer. There are more toilets upstairs. There is a sensory light in these toilets - so they are dark until you go in and then the light comes on. We have toilets for Boys and Girls. We also have a toilet for people who use a Wheelchair.

When the Show is Ready to Start Here’s a picture of the Doors that we enter when the Panto is ready to start. You might hear a ‘bing-bong’ noise and a person will say ‘Its time for the show, please take your seats’.

Where we Sit Here’s a picture of where we sit when we go to the Panto. You will have a ticket with a number and we will show you where to go. If you want to get up and down and move around during the show, that’s ok. If you would like a Booster Seat, we can provide you with one, just ask our helpers.

The performance will be adapted slightly to make it a more comfortable experience for you. Instead of the theatre being in darkness the lights will be left on, just slightly dimmed during the performance, and the sound levels will be lowered. There will be no bright flashing lights. Once you enter the theatre please feel free to make yourself comfortable in which ever way you like. You can start in your own seats but then move around within the theatre if you need to. During this Panto there are noisy moments. Sometimes children don’t like loud noises. If you read the notes (further down), you will be prepared for the performance as we have used cartoon images at times when there will be a loud noise, so you can cover your ears, or use your ear muffs/plugs. If you want to get up and down and move around during the show, that’s ok.

If you need a break … If you want a break at anytime during the show please feel free to leave the auditorium. We have created a chill out space near the foyer. Just ask one of our helpers to show you where to go. When you’re ready to go back in to the Panto, you can go back in.

Interval – Half Way Through the Panto There will be a break half way through the Panto, after about 1 hour. This break will be for 20 minutes. You can stay sitting in your seats or you can go out to the foyer for a walk around, or buy refreshments from our Bar, or use the Toilets or Chill Out Space.

Throughout Alice in Wonderland the Panto there will different lights and sounds. These symbols indicate

what will be present in different scenes. These symbols will guide you through this visual guide.

Symbol Legend

Conversation between Actor and Audience

Loud Noise

Change in lighting/bright lights

Break Time

Music

Dancing

Clapping Noise

Alice in Wonderland the Panto - The Storyline … Here’s what happens during the Panto … Overture - This is a musical introduction before the action starts and give the musicians a chance to show off their skills. Story Summery – What would you do if you met a Rabbit in your Garden? You would be curious of course! So it was with Alice when she followed the White Rabbit into the rabbit hole, not knowing that her mother, the Dame was going to follow her too…. This is the start of Alice's big adventure! When she come out of the Rabbit hole, Alice finds herself in the colourful and exciting Wonderland. She meets Jack of Spades, who helps her on her journey - a journey that gets curiouser and curiouser as Alice meets all the strange characters who live there. The Caterpillar, Tweddledum and Tweedledee, The Cheshire Cat, The Mad Hatter and more! Alice attends a strange tea party and learns of the Queen’s secret plan to sell Wonderland to Disneyland, which would make everyone who lives there very unhappy. Everyone attends the queens Croquet Match. During the games the Queen’s jam tarts disappear and Alice is accused of stealing them. An hilarious court trial follows, in which Alice is acquitted and set free- and The Queen’s plan is exposed and she is deported from Wonderland forever. Everyone, Alice, the Dame and Jack live happily ever after!

SYNOPSIS OF SCENES ACT ONE / 1 HR 30 MINS 0. PROLOGUE & OPENING MUSIC 1. SCENE ONE WONDERLAND 2. SCENE TWO ON THE WAY SOMEWHERE 3. SCENE THREE MALICE IN THE PALACE 4. SCENE FOUR ON THE WAY TO THE PARTY 5. SCENE FIVE THE MAD HATTER’S TEA PARTY INTERVAL / 15-20 MINS ACT TWO / 1 HOUR 0. PROLOGUE & OPENING MUSIC 1. SCENE ONE THE CROQUET MATCH 2. SCENE TWO ON THE WAY TO THE COURTROOM 3. SCENE THREE THE TRIAL OF ALICE 4. SCENE FOUR ON THE WAY TO SONGTIME 5. SCENE FIVE SONGTIME & AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

0. ACT 1 - PROLOGUE & OPENING MUSIC

Summary of Scene: We hear “BUSY” MUSIC. White Rabbit appears SINGING “I’m Late”. We hear SHOUTING and Alice appears and sees Rabbit and SCREAMS. Rabbit tells Alice how he is late to meet The Queen of Hearts before disappearing down a Rabbit Hole. Only someone with an invitation can visit The Queen of Hearts, Alice has no invite - but she decides to follow down the hole anyway, saying it will be ‘An Adventure’! We hear SHOUTING off stage. Alice’s mother, The Dame appears searching for Alice. She asks the audience where Alice is gone?!... So she too goes down the Rabbit Hole. And so the Adventure begins….. Every time The Dame comes on stage there is clapping and laughing and The Dame likes when people talk back to her and interact with her in a funny way. Singing and Dancing: I’m Still Standing with Jack of Spades Lights Go dark on Stage for scene change

Characters we meet: The White Rabbit, Alice Pickle , Dame Philomena Pickle

1. SCENE ONE - WONDERLAND

Characters we meet: Jack of Spades, Dancing Cats, Dancing Flowers, Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter & Dormouse Summary of Scene: Jack of Spades wonders why Rabbit is late. We hear a LOUD NOISE before Rabbit appears from the hole. Rabbit tells Jack that Alice is following him. We hear a LOUD VOICE from the hole before Alice pops out! Jack scares Alice. Alice SCREAMS. Jack offers to show Alice around Wonderland. They Exit. Next, Cheshire Cat appears & SINGS A SONG: “I’m ODD”. We hear Dame’s voice SHOUTING OFF STAGE, before she appears and meets Cat. Next the Dame meets Mad Hatter and Dormouse. They have a crazy conversation before Dame

disappears off stage and the Dormouse falls asleep with LOUD SNORES. Songs: Get Back Up Again – Alice & Dancers Lights go down

2. SCENE TWO - ON THE WAY SOMEWHERE

Characters we meet: The 3 Blind Mice, Tweedledee & Tweedledum & Caterpillar, Big Chop Summary of Scene: Jack tells Alice that everyone is afraid of the Queen. The three blind mice appear and bump into Rabbit. Rabbit explains that Tweedledee and Tweedledum are getting “The Cop” from The Queen . Dame enters, introduces herself and talks to the Boys and Girls in the audience. Dame chats to Alice about how everyone is mad in Wonderland! Tweedledee and Tweedledum FRANTICALLY enter followed by Big Chop. There is LOUD Music and lots of running around. Caterpillar enters. Alice is introduced to everyone. Song: How D’ye Do & Shake Hands and lights go down.

3. SCENE THREE - MALICE IN THE PALACE

Characters we meet: Queen of Hearts, King of Hearts, Flunky, Little Chop, Caterpillar, Cook Summary of Scene: Dance: The Scene opens with a Song: ‘March of the Guards’. Flunky introduces the King and Queen. The King GALLOPS around. The King and Queen are not very nice. The queen likes to SHOUT “OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!” and generally Likes to SHOUT every time she speaks!! LOUD MUSIC, Guards and BIG CHOP escort Tweedledee and Twedledum down the stage. We discover that Queen’s plan to sell Wonderland and all its residents to Disneyland! All the wonderland characters sing a SONG:“Stand Together” . The Dame and Alice realise they really should not be in Wonderland without an Invitation and need to be careful! Scene ends with Song 2: Bad Romance – Queen & Dancers. Lights change and Queen SHOUTS “OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!”

4. SCENE FOUR- ON THE WAY TO THE PARTY

Characters we meet: Alice, Jack, Cat, Hatter, Tweedledum, Tweedledee, White Rabbit and we hear the sound of the Jabberwocky Summary of Scene: Tweedledee & Tweedledum check everyone’s invitations before they make their way to the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party. Some characters put a hat on that DISTORTS their Voices. The Cheshire Cat is very annoyed not to be invited but plans to sneak in anyway! Then we hear LOUD MUSIC and the SCARY SOUND EFFECT of the Jabberwocky Songs: ‘I’m Trapped’ – The King sings a solo song - Lights go down.

5. SCENE FIVE- THE MAD HATTER’S TEA PARTY

Summary of Scene: Opens with Song : ‘I want to make the world laugh’ LIGHTS CHANGE The Hatters tea party begins- everyone on stage shouts “OFF WITH THEIR HEADS”. Alice tried to introduce herself to everyone-with great difficulty! Alice SHOUTS “JACK”, the other party attendees leave the stage and Jack and the Dame arrive. The Dame and Hatter Sing Song 2: ‘Yes I’m Your Angel’- MIRROR BALLS, SHINING ALL AROUND THE AUDITORIUM. The Cat enters, he claims to need help from the Jabberwocky. LOUD Jabberwocky SOUND AFFECT and DIMMED LIGHTS. The Dame asks the boys and girls if they are enjoying the panto. LOUD CREEPING MUSIC AND BANGS WITH everyone CHASING around the stage- The Cat is trying to find the Rabbit! The Jabberwocky arrives to more SOUND AFFECTS AND FLASHING LIGHTS- CHAOS Ensues! Everyone find outs that the queens plans to sell Wonderland to Disneyland- will they let this happen??- OH NO THEY WON’T!. The Caterpillar enters and Sings Song 3: ‘Livin’ La Vida Loca’ – Caterpillar & Dancers, MIRROR BALL WITH FLASHING LIGHTS. Lights go down and curtain down.

Interval – Half Way Through the Panto There will be a break half way through the Panto, after about 1 hour 30 mins. This break will be for 20 minutes. You can stay sitting in your seats or you can go out to the foyer for a walk around, or buy refreshments from our Bar, or use the Toilets or our Chill Out Space.

0. ACT 2 - PROLOGUE & OPENING MUSIC

Characters we meet: King, Queen, Cat Summary of Scene: The beginning of Act 2 has some opening MUSIC by the band. The King tells the Queen a joke, but she’s not very impressed. The Queen will be SHOUTING again! The Cat helps the Queen with a plan to accuse Alice of stealing her Tarts! Lights go down.

1. SCENE ONE - THE CROQUET MATCH

Summary of Scene: Scene opens with FLASHING LIGHTS AND SONG “UPTOWN FUNK”, followed by Song 2:The 3 Blind Mice Rap, making tapping noises with their canes. Everyone begins to play the Queens game of Croquet. Once again the queen is shouting “OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!” Cat and Dancers begin SONG 3: ‘CHAINED TO THE RHYTHM’ WITH CHANGING LIGHTS. The hatter BLOWS A WHISTLE, the full cast assemble for The Games, there is lots of MUSIC TRACKS AND MOVEMENT. General Panto Chaos follows with CHASING AND MUSIC- and more SHOUTING from the Queen. The Queen accuses Alice of stealing and she is arrested. The Dame ASKS THE AUDIENCE to help her- More Flashing Lights And Chasing! SONG 4: OFF WITH THEIR HEADS – QUEEN & DANCERS Scene ends- lights down

2. SCENE TWO ON THE WAY TO THE COURTROOM

Summary of Scene: The Jury make their way to The Courtroom. Different characters answer questions. The Cat sings a SONG: ‘There Was A Cat- Where? And is carried off the stage still singing. Tweedledee & Tweedledum are last and stay on stage to sing a song

3. SCENE THREE - THE TRIAL OF ALICE

Characters we meet: The Jabberwocky and all Characters Summary of Scene: Everyone enters the courtroom, The Dame is defending Alice. The Case begins. The Hatter performs an IRISH JIG WITH MUSIC. The Dame, King and Chorus begin to SING a Song: ‘Full Discloser’. Queen engages in Truth Game: Screen appears and MAKES A NOISE every time the truth or a lie is told. LOUD TRUTH & UNTRUTH SOUNDS Follow. There is Mastermind Music.. The Queen is found Guilty of trying to sell Wonderland to Disneyland and Alice is allowed to go free. The King BANGS THE GAVEL. The crowd CHEER. The Jury point at the Queen and Shout “OFF WITH HER HEAD”. They CHASE the Queen. The King Summons the Jabberwocky to take the Queen away. JABBERWOCKY SOUND EFFECT SOUNDS. Scene Ends

4. SCENE FOUR - ON THE WAY TO SONGTIME

Summary of Scene: Alice is free from Court, she didn’t steal the Jam Tarts after all and she wants to stay in Wonderland for ever SING SONG: ‘WONDERLAND’ – Alice & Jack WITH MIRROR BALL SHINING across Auditorium. During the song all the Characters come onto the stage.

5. SCENE FIVE SONGTIME & AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

- Dame Philomena Pickle & The Mad Hatter sing a funny version of the SONG: ‘SINGING IN THE RAIN’ and ask the AUDIENCE TO PARTICIPATE AND DANCE & SING ALONG IN THEIR SEATS. - All of the cast come out on stage one by one to take their bows. Be sure to CLAP for all of the performers! - Dame Philomena Pickle will say a couple of words before the cast sings the final song of the panto SING SONG: ‘Goosebumps’ ! The audience are invited to Clap Along to the song.

Clapping People clap at the end of a show. It shows the performers that we enjoyed the show. After the clapping we can leave the theatre and go home. We hope you enjoyed your time at Draíocht and that you will come back again to see a different show.