In a few short weeks, the world’s best cirque performers will descend on Sydney as they prepare to star in the Sydney premiere of Cirque Alice, opening at Coliseum Theatre on 24 December. Globally acclaimed comedy magician Paul Dabek (Cirque Du Soleil, The Illusionists) is gearing up to lead audiences on a riotous and riddle-filled adventure as The Mad Hatter, in this cirque extravaganza.
“Playing the Mad Hatter is frankly the closest thing to typecasting I’ve ever experienced,” says Dabek, who has been a full-time touring artist for nearly 25yrs, “so it feels like I fell down the rabbit hole years a quarter of a century ago and I’m no hurry to climb back out.”
Dabek describes his Hatter as a joyful combination of unhinged whimsy, caffeinated chaos, and a man who clearly never reads the instructions on anything. “He exists permanently three inches to the left of normal.”
What Dabek loves most is the freedom to explore given his eccentric character is the conduit between the audience and the stage. “No two shows are the same and you never know what is going to happen when you include audience interaction.”
Dabek believes that what makes Cirque Alice unique and what continue to bring audiences back it’s because it’s bonkers in the best possible way. “It’s Wonderland crossed with Vegas-level spectacle… atmospheric, immersive, and filled with heart-stopping circus acts that make you go “WOW!” and “HOW?!” at the same time.”
Playing to a live audience is clearly something Dabek relishes, in fact, he describes it as the rush being on a date with several hundred people at once
“You flirt, you tease, occasionally someone laughs usually in delight and if it’s going particularly well, everyone goes home glowing and slightly confused.”
Dabek says that shared energy is addictive. “A live audience breathes with you. You feel their laughter, you feel their silence, and occasionally you can feel them judging your hat choices, but it’s all part of the magic.”
Although a touring show, this will be Dabek’s first tour with Cirque Alice but, as a performer, Dabek has toured extensively and says what he loves about touring is the people.
“The cast becomes a family, and the audiences change with every city, so the show evolves constantly.”
For Dabek the biggest challenge is the practical – suitcases. “I pack like a magician, I leave with one small bag and return with six hats, a broken teapot, two juggling clubs, and absolutely no memory of how any of it happened.”
Dabek started his career in show business when at the age of 4, dressed in top hat and cape (a blanket from the back of the sofa) he sold his parents two tickets to his first one-man show held in the family’s living room. Since then, the British performer has earned an incredible reputation having performed across 6 continents from London to Las Vegas, for celebrities, royalty and many fortune 500 companies.
“Performing for royalty is surreal because you suddenly become hyper-aware of everything you’re doing, says Dabek. “You’re thinking, “Do make a joke that insults the king, Paul, that’s how revolutions start.
What I cherish most is the reminder that no matter how big someone’s title is, everyone loves to be entertained, surprised, and made to feel like a kid again.”
Clearly an aspiring performer at a young age Dabek says when he was little he wanted to be a mix of David Copperfield, Jim Carrey, and anyone who didn’t have a real job. “I grew up idolizing people who made the impossible look effortless and fun.
Today, I’m inspired by brilliant creatives I meet everywhere circus artists, comedians, designers, and yes, occasionally someone on TikTok making a sandwich with more commitment than most Shakespearean actors.
And my dog Nava. She inspires me to nap more and complain less.”
Following sell out seasons in Brisbane and Singapore, Cirque Alice entices audiences down the rabbit hole, with an awe-inspiring set and immersive on-stage cabaret seating putting guests at the heart of the action as performers soar above the stage of Coliseum Theatre.
Says Dabek, “If you’ve ever wanted to escape reality, even just for a couple of hours, come join us in Wonderland. It’s wild, it’s beautiful, it’s hilarious, and it will make you believe… at least for a moment, that impossible things happen every day.
Plus, I wear an enormous hat, and frankly, that alone is worth the ticket price.”
CIRQUE ALICE
ARRIVES IN SYDNEY FROM 24 DEC
STRICTLY LIMITED SEASON
TICKETS AT COLISEUMTHEATRE.COM.AU
Tickets start at $69 plus booking fees.
ARRIVES IN ADELAIDE FROM 8 JAN
ARRIVES IN CANBERRA FROM 22 JAN
BOOKINGS
INTERNET: COLISEUMTHEATRE.COM.AU or TICKETEK.COM.AU
