Alice has been supported using public funding by the National
Lottery through Arts Council England - www.artscouncil.org.uk
Alice becomes… ALICE! Photo Copyright © Tina Gooding 2023
“I am a playwright, a performer, a compere and a magician. I go by a number of names and one of those is Alice d’Lumiere. This project concerns that aspect of me...
“To dispense with the Elephant in the wardrobe; I am essentially gender-fluid - what one might term a “part time girl”; with no desire to permanently change their gender.
“I however clearly possess a curiously over-developed feminine side to my psychology which greatly benefits from a chance to come out, express herself creatively and interact with other people.
“My chosen femme name “Alice” was acquired on the local Goth scene and was born from a love of Lewis Carroll influenced intellectual nonsense and a habit of wearing full petticoated frocks with stripy tights!
“Despite working professionally en-femme as a Cabaret Hostess and Comedienne on the Retro, Burlesque and Steampunk circuits for a few years, before “Illuminating Alice” I had yet to write a show specifically addressing the experience of being gender-fluid, but that like me, has changed...”
Alice d’Lumiere
Written and Performed by Alice d'Lumiere
Music by Tina Gooding,
Movement Director - Angelica Bangs
"A Mad Adventure in Growing up, Shrinking down and Jumping Stripy Tights
first Through the Looking Glass of Gender!"
Alice d'Lumiere chose her name, her gender and her wardrobe and now she is revisiting her childhood imagination and exploring the fantastical tales which led to her real-life choices... In the parlance of the super hero genre - this is the origin story!
“Illuminating Alice” is a highly personal piece from an accomplished writer/performer; playfully analysing the narrative construction of the people we see in the mirror. The resultant work is a passionate, honest and celebratory show; part personal testament, part solo cabaret. Expect dynamic performance poetry, engaging comedy, voluminous frocks and definitely more than a touch of Lewis Carroll...
Gender fluid spoken word artist and poet, Alice d'Lumiere, has set herself a number of pulse-racing performance challenges over the years; from becoming an aerial hoop performer to an opera singer; all accomplished in pursuit of exploring identity, individual creativity and the joys of not always confirming to the gender one is assigned at birth.
“Illuminating Alice” was originally co-commission by Colchester Arts Centre and Norwich Arts Centre. and has been supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
AUDIENCE FEEDBACK
“You nailed it! Thank you for sharing so much of yourself and giving me lots to talk and think about too.”
Emma Mordue
“Hi Alice. Loved your show at Norwich Arts Centre this evening. I felt extremely moved by the grace, honesty and positivity of your story. And I loved the singing… Thanks so much for bringing your show to Norwich. I wish you all the best with your future creative adventures.”
Su Squire
“It was thought provoking, entertaining and intriguing. Also your singing was fine especially in the second song which really suited your voice. I admired the vulnerability you brought to the performance and I was very happy to hear about all the work/ opportunities / friendships that have developed for you since letting Alice out to play... Well done and thank you.”
Lisa Eureka
“A fabulous evening in Norwich last night at 'Illuminating Alice' with the gorgeous Alice d'Lumiere, we're really looking forward to [THE TURNABOUT TEA] on Saturday. I went to both the Turnabout Tea and the Sewing Circle when they were held in Colchester last year: both of them were great fun, with a lovely relaxed and inclusive atmosphere, and I met some lovely people (and ate some lovely cake!), as well as learning a lot. This year they are both on the same day, in the fine city of Norwich. I can't recommend them, or indeed Norwich, highly enough.”
Jess
