It’s Katie in Wonderland! #localandproud

Former New Vic youth group member makes professional debut in theatre’s festive show

AN ACTOR who spent her teenage years in the New Vic’s youth theatre group is making her first professional appearance at the theatre in Alice in Wonderland.

Katie Cannon plays multiple characters in the festive production, which opened at the Basford theatre on Friday.

The 24-year-old joined the youth theatre at the age of 11 and appeared in its production of A Christmas Carol as a 14-year-old in 2012 – as one of the Cratchit children – alongside her twin sister, Rachel.

Now, after finishing drama school, she has joined the professional cast which includes New Vic favourites such as Michael Hugo, Danielle Bird and Andrew Ganley.

Katie, from Fulford, said: “I was always interested in performing but after I was in A Christmas Carol I definitely knew I wanted to be an actor. Doing that show and being on the stage was amazing.

“All the children were treated as members of the cast and I had lines and props to look after. I was so excited to have this chance to come back to the New Vic. I’d already spoken to the casting director and I knew I wanted to be in this show.”

The former Blythe Bridge High School pupil took a GCSE and A-level in drama before heading to the University of Birmingham to study drama and French.

In her final year at Birmingham she applied to several drama schools and won a place at her first choice, Guildford School of Acting.

After ‘one of the best years of her life’ she graduated in December 2021, moved to London and did mostly screen acting until her agent called with the news that auditions were coming up for

Alice in Wonderland at the New

Vic.

The adaptation of the Lewis

Carroll classic is being brought to life by the same team behind the theatre’s previous successful Christmas productions including

Beauty and the Beast,

Treasure Island and The Snow Queen, which was named UK Theatre’s Best Show for Children and Young People.

Katie, who is also the understudy for Alice, said: “There’s such a lot in this show – every single scene has magic or craziness. All your favourite characters from Alice in Wonderland are there and I think it’s very funny and very silly.

“I still can’t believe I get to do this for my real job. It’s a dream come true.”

DREAM COME TRUE: Katie Cannon performing in Alice in Wonderland. Right, an 11-year-old Katie with rehearsing a musical version of Gulliver’s Travels in 2010, with David Beckford, who played Gulliver.