The Mad Hatter's Tea Party
"Brother Wolf brings us another fascinating interpretation of classic Victorian literature, in this case the world of Lewis Carroll’s ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.’... The first twenty minutes feature James Hyland giving a fantastic monologue explaining his and the March Hare’s predicament, meanwhile the Hare is sleeping soundly. Once the Hare awakes, they discuss tea, and we are also introduced to the Dormouse (excellently voiced by James Hyland)... there is a mystery here however, I will not reveal what the mystery is, but it is central to the themes of loss and memory. The Hare is forced to drink by the Hatter and the Hare’s reaction shows the reality of their situation, which the Hare accepts whilst the Hatter not only regards as an unjust punishment but still hopes for release. In terms of the production, this is a fine example of the theatre of the absurd. The theatre of the absurd argues that the human condition is absurd, that life has little meaning and that we are at the mercy of an overbearing outside force over which we have no control. It also features larger than life characters attempting to accept the absurdity of life with dignity, whilst rebelling against convention in a surreal, illogical setting. This description of the theatre of the absurd applies clearly to the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, with its themes of memory and loss and the absurd situation that the Hatter and the Hare find themselves in due to a cruel and capricious Queen with no hope of release or reprieve. The performances in this production are outstanding with James Hyland showing his mastery of physical acting... Overall, The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party is an intriguing and entertaining examination of memory, loss, and the desire to escape grief by highlighting the sometimes absurdity of the human condition that at times none of us can change."
Rating: ★★★★★
~Louise Broadbent, THE DRACULA SOCIETY
"'The Mad Hatter's Tea Party', based on the book 'Alice in Wonderland' by Lewis Carroll, has been excellently adapted by James Hyland who not only produced and directed the play but incidentally plays the fun, crazed, eccentric Mad Hatter better than Johnny Depp any day of the week... A Child Of The Jago have outdone themselves yet again on the fabulous costumes that sum up this production as entertaining, fun and full of laughs and a great play to go and see with the kids or simply on your own. I loved it."
Rating: ★★★★★
~Mark Carter, BRITISH THEATRE JOURNAL
"James Hyland is astonishingly good at what he does... Hyland is a first class character actor and his Mad Hatter is, well, mad as a hatter – seriously and terrifyingly so as we richochet “from rabbit hole to heart of darkness”... The comic and physical timing is exemplary... This show is James Hyland’s latest dive into nineteenth century fiction from a new angle. I’ve seen him in Fagin’s Last Hour, A Christmas Carol as told by Jacob Marley – deceased, Jekyll and Hyde and Dracula. His imaginative writing is as impressive as his acting."
Rating: ★★★★
~Susan Elkin, SUSAN ELKIN REVIEWS
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"The Mad Hatters Tea Party is a thought-provoking, absurd delight... James Hyland’s adaptation of the classic story of ‘Alice in Wonderland’ is an insanely creative bewitched piece of theatre... an absolute masterpiece and every thought and idea that went into it was a stroke of brilliance... The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party makes for a great night in the theatre and will leave you slightly gaga and make you ask more questions about life and reality than you had before... a wonderful and cuckoo piece of the theatre with very creative and imaginative elements mingled in."
Rating: ★★★★
~Becki Douglass, A YOUNGISH PERSPECTIVE
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"with James Hyland’s The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, the writer/director proves there are still unique perspectives to be gained from the legendary tale... he has seen great value in exploring the text in an open-minded way that’s allowed him to extract a clear, funny, and at times heartbreaking narrative... What Hyland has created is a play that offers audiences a slight pang of Waiting for Godot as the Hatter and Hare converse in a way that’s respectfully familiar to Vladimir and Estragon in the aforementioned play."
Rating: ★★★★
~Niger Asije, THE NEW CURRENT
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"WEIRD, WONDERFUL... Having watched the Brother Wolf adaptation of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde earlier in the summer, I was thrilled to be invited to The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party at the White Bear Theatre in Kennington. From the moment I entered the intimate and cosy theatre space, I knew I was in for a unique and memorable interpretation of Lewis Carroll’s classic tale and its iconic characters... James Hyland once again demonstrates his remarkable range as an actor. His ability to engage the audience, combined with his exceptional puppetry skills in animating the door mouse, made this two-person performance an unforgettable experience. His portrayal of the Hatter’s descent into madness was both captivating and haunting, leaving a lasting impression long after the play had ended... The visual and creative elements of the production were particularly impressive, with the costumes especially being wonderfully designed... The puppetry was another highlight, adding depth and creativity to the performance... The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party is a thought-provoking and visually striking adaptation of a beloved classic... the performances and creative elements make it a show worth seeing."
~Estelle Luck, PINK PRINCE THEATRE
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"The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, directed by James Hyland at the White Bear Theatre, is a theatrical journey into the depths of absurdity, where the boundaries between fiction and reality blur into chaotic eccentricity. This adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s ironically timeless classic by Brother Wolf doesn’t just take you down the rabbit hole – it plunges you into the very heart of madness itself. The production is a riotous celebration of Carroll’s surreal world, where logic is upended and the familiar becomes strange and unsettling... this production is more than just a retelling of a beloved story – it’s an immersive experience that leaves its mark on the psyche... offering a poignant commentary on the human condition... Be warned, you may just leave the theatre more unhinged than when you arrived."
~Olivia Gardener, THE UPCOMING
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"The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party is an absurdist take on the beloved characters from Lewis Carroll’s world of madness... Desperate and intense, funny and clever, this absurdist play is entertaining and surreal."
~Bianca, A SHINY LIFE FOR ME​​
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"The Strangest Never-Ending Tea Party You’ll Ever Attend... The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, directed by James Hyland, is an absurdist and immersive play that delves into memory loss and madness... By inviting the audience into the tea party, we are led down the rabbit hole with them both, taken on a journey that blurs the boundaries between fiction and reality... All sense of time and reality fades away in this performance... You leave this engaging show with a sense of confusion, unable to fully explain what you have just observed, though knowing that you had an entertaining evening... and can be accurately described as weird and wonderful!"
~Kashmini Shah, VOICE MAGAZINE