MORE ABOUT THE QUEEN

The Queen of Hearts is part of an original for-stage design concept of Alice's Adventure's in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. The novel and chilling reputation of the author have fascinated me for a long time as an artist in terms of debating how exactly to interpret work and how a creator's choices outside their work influences their creations. It's a rather disturbing conversation in regards to Alice but one that has clearly affected the hearts of many, resulting in the countless interpretations and a interpolations of the piece, and I have to say I simply love seeing versions of the story where Alice gains new agency and takes control of the Lewis Carroll situation specifically. Alice: Madness Returns, the video game directed by American McGee, is one version that particularly resonates with me and partly inspired me to create my own Alice in Wonderland for-stage costume concept.

The production concept itself is a version of the story where Alice gets swept up not into the traditionally fantastical world of wonderland but rather the fantastical world of a wonderland circus and creating performance art and the very real dangers that come with pursuing a career like that. As an artist myself I am very aware of power that industry icons and corporations have over me, and how individuals can abuse that power with predatory business dealings and private relationships. And I'm aware on a personal level of just how much of a toll the act of creating can take. I thought the circus, a visually stunning attraction, but highly controversial throughout history, would be the perfect stage to enhance the story I wished to tell.

I designed a whole collection of character and ensemble looks for this show. They are heavily stylized and make use of full body puppetry and cage understructures. And I entirely created the Queen of Hearts as a fully realized example and taste of what all the costumes in this production could look like. The Queen features a Worbla corset, and a massive hoop skirt and overskirt that forms the shape of a heart when looking directly at it and also from behind and slightly above to maximize stage presence from multiple angles. Everything about the piece is designed to be a little off and a little bit worse for wear and I adore how it came out!