A local theatre group turned ‘Alice in Wonderland’ into a community affair for Seniors’ Week.
The performance saw families and friends together on stage at the Civic Amphitheatre in Cannington.
The performance, written and directed by New City Theatre president, Gerri Keppler, featured a cast of local talent, including her three daughters Aimee-Rose, Hannah-Jade and Eloise, who each played major roles both on and off stage. Her husband, Nico, acts and creates music.
Gerri said the performance went very well despite the challenges of rehearsing without full set or props.
“The actors and singers had worked very hard to put on a great show,” she said.
“We could only build the set on the day of the performance, so until then, the actors were just rehearsing with chalk outlines of where things would be.”
She said ‘Alice in Wonderland’ was chosen because it was “whimsical and fun for all ages.”
“The original soundtrack, written by a 19-year-old Hannah-Jade, makes it even more special,” Gerri said.
“It’s important to us to perform locally because community is the backbone of society, and it’s important to give back.”
The Keppler family has been performing together since 2013, when they began writing and staging short shows at the Canning Show.
What started as a creative outlet for Gerri’s daughters has now grown into a not-for-profit theatre group that runs on volunteer effort.
“The whole objective of New City Theatre is community,” she said.
“I run it so young people have access to the arts, which can be a very expensive industry to be a part of. We often do free shows and offer free tickets to community members who may not be able to enjoy a night out.”
Performing together, for the Keppler sisters, was both a family tradition and a creative joy.
Aimee-Rose, a WAAPA (Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts) Classical Voice student and owner of Aimee-Rose Piano and Singing School, said she loved seeing her students perform during the intermission.
“It was such a warm, relaxed environment where everyone could just have fun,” she said. “It’s lovely to see how much my mum puts into New City Theatre to give everyone opportunities.”
Hannah-Jade, who wrote the show’s original soundtrack, said she enjoyed performing her own music alongside her sister.
“Getting to bring enjoyment to any audience is a gift,” she said.
“Performing and working alongside my sister and close friends makes it even more special. Growing up in this theatre group has shaped my passion for the arts while remaining in a grounding home.”
Eloise, who played the Queen of Hearts, said her favourite moments were the fun scenes she shared with Hannah-Jade on stage.
“I love making older people smile,” she said.
“Alice in Wonderland means a lot to many people, especially seniors and children, so I loved performing for them.”
A 13-year-old Danielle Ritchie, who played Alice, said the experience was unforgettable.
“It was a fun experience and everyone made me feel welcome from my first day,” she said.
“I was nervous at first, but everyone supported me through rehearsals and helped me gain confidence to perform in front of a large audience.”
The production received praise from seniors in the audience, who described the young performers as “professionals”, “enthralling”, and “very talented”.
One attendee summed up the night, saying “it was a very fun night.”
A grandmother who attended travelled all the way from Albany to watch her granddaughters perform.
“It was so much more than I expected,” she said.
“The location is beautiful and I never realised it exited despite living in Canning for many years. The production was brilliant and the young soloists were so talented. I really loved seeing young people put something on. That was so beautifully done.
“I hope the City of Canning can do more with encouraging their youth to put in more events like this because these young people worked hard and put on a great show.”
Her granddaughters were Tamara Wolf, who played the White Rabbit, and AJ Wolf, a local singer-songwriter.
