Alice Is Still In Wonderland

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Alice Is Still in Wonderland

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17/11/2015

BBC Radio 4 - Alice Is Still in WonderlandSearch BBC

Siouxsie Sioux celebrates Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

4 Extra Debut. Siouxsie Sioux explores the allure of Carroll’s Alice's Adventures in Wonderland with its darkly satirical images. From 2015.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland has become an icon of British culture - the bizarre story and flamboyant illustrations have inspired all kinds of imagery, fashion, architecture, theatre, decoration and events. 

But its sinister undercurrents and dreamscape have also impressed artists and musicians.

Lead singer and songwriter of alternative rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees, Siouxsie Sioux, explores the strange allure of Lewis Carroll's book, first published in 1865.  

"From 8 onwards, I returned to those pictures of strange, impossible animals and freakish, devious adults as I followed the solitary, brave girl, from one weird encounter to the next. I was struck that Alice could grow or shrink at the bite of a cake or the sip of a drink - my body was changing by the day and I was desperate to be older and taller, like my sister, as I wobbled around in my mum’s high heels. The Mad Hatter, the Dozy Dormouse, the Mock Turtle, the Duchess’ baby pig and playing croquet with flamingos as mallets all made me laugh and I loved the floating head of the grinning Cheshire Cat who couldn't be beheaded.

But there was something else that drew me into Wonderland that I couldn’t have named then, though I sensed its irreverence - something darker about adults and their rules and their craziness and endless unreasonableness. Alice was an ally and the book helped me dream myself out of the London suburbs." Siouxsie Sioux

Siouxsie Sioux travels to Oxford to retrace Lewis Carroll's inspiration and influence. With an Un-Oxford soundtrack.

Made to mark the 150th anniversary of the book’s publication.

A Cast Iron Radio production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in November 2015.

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