An experimental re-imagining of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland will share an important message about mental health issues at Stevenage and Biggleswade libraries.

The Comet: Librarian Theatre'’s original production of Alice in the Cuckoo’'s NestLibrarian Theatre'’s original production of Alice in the Cuckoo’'s Nest (Image: Librarian Theatre)

Hertfordshire County Council’s library service will be hosting Librarian Theatre’s original production of Alice in the Cuckoo’s Nest at Stevenage Central Library on Monday, November 27.

This follows a performance scheduled for Biggleswade Library on Tuesday, November 21 at 7.30pm.

The experimental performance is a new adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, which re-imagines the original story in the setting of a mental institution.

Actors Tom Cuthbertson and Kelly Eva-May set up Librarian Theatre as a not-for-profit company in 2015, with their performance of Hamlet last year also touring at Hertfordshire libraries.

Although this year’s show is family friendly, it differs quite significantly from Walt Disney’s 1951 film version of Alice.

Tom said: “We’re not shying away from the darker sides of the subject matter.

“But nor will there be overly explicit content which would exclude younger audience members.

“Hopefully audiences of all ages will take something away from it, and it will help fuel important conversations about mental health.”

Herts county councillor Terry Douris, cabinet member for education, libraries and localism, said: “We are thrilled that Librarian Theatre is bringing their shows back to Hertfordshire County Council’s libraries for a third year in a row.

“The performances are a great example of a unique way to use libraries and engage with the community, and this particular performance shares a very important message about mental health.”

Librarian Theatre aims to work together with the library sector to provide accessible, affordable, high quality theatre to local communities, whilst using the tours as a chance to promote and protect public library services, reading and literacy.

As well as visiting Stevenage Library on November 27 at 7.30pm, the show can also be seen at Hemel Hempstead Library on November 28 and St Albans Library on November 30.

Children aged eight plus, accompanied by an adult, are welcome but this is not a children’s show, and the production explores adult themes of mental health.

The show lasts approximately one hour with no interval.

Tickets for the Stevenage date are £7 for adults and £5 for concessions.

Tickets for the Biggleswade performance are £7.50 and £6.50.

They are on sale at www.librariantheatre.com and in the library.