From page to stage in 24 hours: Dense & Stage Theatre’s Alice in 24

Dense & Stage Theatre, a collective of queer and neurodivergent artists, recently captivated audiences with their playful production Alice in 24 - an adaptation of Lewis Carroll's classic tale, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. The origins of the theatre company lie in the success of artistic producer Ian McCormack’s absurdist play Cornflake, which toured Canadian fringe festivals last summer. The collaboration on Cornflake was centered on the intersection of queerness and neurodivergence, which quickly led to the official formation of Dense & Stage, with a mission to create indie theatre opportunities for queer and neurodivergent artists.

Alice in 24 debuted at Mainline Theatre for one afternoon only on January 26, and according to director Abi Sanie, it perfectly embodied their collective’s mission. “Working on Alice in 24 represents the dream that I have for emerging artists to collaborate and put work into the world together...” The choice of reimagining Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland resonated deeply with the collective, drawing parallels between Alice’s experiences and the neurodivergent experience. Alice navigates a world that often feels nonsensical. “Alice reminds me of the young, queer versions of ourselves, navigating a topsy turvy world in a quest for her true self,” said Sanie.

 An audience highlight of Alice in 24 was the vibrant sense of play and improvisation that came from the actors. Sanie encouraged the cast to embrace freedom, silliness and even mistakes, fostering a strong sense of trust within the ensemble. This experience of trust was shared by the Red Queen, played by Augusta Wind. “Alice in 24 was one of the most exhilarating shows I’ve got- ten to do. Coming together, trusting the group, the material, our instincts and always saying ‘yes, and...?,’ you come to find anything is possible.”

What makes the show even more remarkable is its creation process. While the production team engaged in planning set design, costume creation and sound development over two months before the production, most of the show – set installation, lighting, costume fittings, sound cues, rehearsals and more – happened within a single 24-hour period.

Moving forward, the collective aims to explore the themes of bodies and abilities, sharing narratives through curiosity, disability and resistance against oppressive forces. “I am immensely grateful for the trust and love that makes insane projects like this one come to life,” shared Sanie, who is also the artistic director at Dense & Stage. “It means bringing our voices as queer and neurodivergent artists to the forefront of theatre-making and empower[ing] all of us to lead and collaborate with folks whose experiences we deeply resonate with.”

Dense & Stage Theatre can be followed on Instagram @dense_stage.