HILLS INDEPENDENT HILLS 126 December 2025 | Page 25

OUT & ABOUT

World’ s best circus performers join all-star

cast for Sydney premiere of Cirque Alice

Coliseum Theatre has unveiled the allstar cast for the Sydney premiere of Cirque Alice, bringing together some of the finest circus talent from across the globe to whisk audiences down the rabbit hole this Christmas.
Newcastle-born rising star and soprano Layla Schillert( Australian Idol) will don the iconic blue frock as Alice, performing beloved classical pieces as she journeys through a reimagined Wonderland.
The unforgettable characters of Alice’ s Adventures in Wonderland are transformed into spectacular, gravitydefying acts. Fresh from reaching the semi-finals of America’ s Got Talent this year, Cirque du Soleil sensations The TT Boys will astonish as Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, flipping and flying in their show-stopping Icarian Games act.
Also from America’ s Got Talent 2024, grand finalists The Ramadhani Brothers will star as the Red and White Knights, performing their famous head-to-head balancing act that will keep audiences gripping their seats.
A mesmerising reimagining of the Caterpillar comes to life through Mongolian contortionists Munkhchimeg Munkh-Erdene, Delgerbayar Tseveensuren, Baigalmaa Chuluun and Dolgorsuren
Ganbold, whose twisting forms create an extraordinary optical illusion of the wise, larger-than-life character.
The two-hour extravaganza also features:
• Comedy magician Paul Dabek( Cirque du Soleil, The Illusionists) as the mischievous Mad Hatter
• Alexandre Lane( Cirque Bon Bon) spinning as the March Hare in the Cyr Wheel
• Munguntsatsrag Naranbaatar delivering a powerful hand-balancing act as the Queen of Hearts
• Peruvian talent Estuart Mena Gonzales on the rola bola as the Dormouse
• Duo aerial artists Emilie Odette and Joann Jerome( Cirque du Soleil) as the Flying Flamingos
• Roller-skating pair Daniel Monni and Marina Sabetta as the Royals
• Daniel Schwarz soaring on the aerial pole as the Snap-dragon fly From 24 December, this epic new production from Tim Lawson( TML Enterprises) and Simon Painter( Painter Productions) reimagines Lewis Carroll’ s classic tale with breathtaking artistry.
Creative Producer Simon Painter said the cast represents“ some of the most elite circus performers on earth.”
“ When creating this show, we were
looking for two things: who is the very best in the world, and what acts best personify the characters from Alice’ s Adventures in Wonderland,” he said.
“ The TT Boys were an obvious fit for Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum with their energetic Icarian Games routine, while the Queen of Hearts demands something extraordinary, exactly what we’ ll see in Munguntsatsrag Naranbaatar’ s handbalancing performance.”
The production features an all-new soundtrack by Norwegian composers Marius Christiansen and Martin Olsen, performed live by virtuoso violinist Darius Thompson( Choir of Man, West End). The score includes fresh remixes of classical favourites such as Flight of the Bumblebee, the Flower Duet, Für Elise and more.
Following sell-out seasons in Brisbane and Singapore, Cirque Alice invites audiences deep into Wonderland with an immersive set design that places them at the heart of the action as performers soar above the stage at the Coliseum Theatre.
BOOKINGS: coliseumtheatre. com. au or ticketek. com. au PHONE: 02 9625 5500 10am to 5pm IN PERSON AT: WEST HQ Box Office, 33 Railway Street, Rooty Hill, NSW 2766
WE HAVE 3 FAMILY PASSES to give away to the 11am show on the 24th December. To enter send us an email to info @ hdinews. com. au and tell us why you would love a family pass to Cirque Alice and leave your name and phone number to be in the running for a pass.

Archie Brothers Now Open at Castle Towers – The Hills District’ s New Entertainment Destination

Following a packed-out VIP launch party, the wait is officially over – Archie Brothers has opened at Castle Towers, joining a refreshed Holey Moley and Strike Bowling to deliver high-energy play, great food and cocktails, and all-out fun.
Funlab has thrown open the doors to its latest entertainment precinct, with Archie Brothers welcoming guests for the very first time. Last night’ s launch saw some of the Hills District’ s most recognisable faces turn out in style. The venue buzzed with music, lights and laughter as guests enjoyed cocktails, games and sneak previews of the brandnew Archie Brothers, Strike Bowling and Holey Moley. Now open under one roof, the three venues deliver a triple hit of entertainment unlike anything Castle Hill has seen before.
Anchoring the precinct is Archie Brothers, a vibrant arcade boasting more than 60 games, from Air Hockey and NBA Hoops to Mario Kart and Jurassic Park. Players can earn tickets and redeem them at a fully stocked prize store. Alongside it, a refreshed Holey Moley brings a reimagined mini-golf experience with creative, surprising holes designed for all ages. Strike Bowling delivers a modern take on the classic bowling alley with big energy, great music, karaoke and escape rooms – perfect for families, friends and corporate groups.
With doors now open, there are plenty of value-packed options to choose from. Kids’ bowling or a round of mini golf is just $ 14 each. For the ultimate entertainment combo, Fun Bundles are available – three activities for $ 36. Guests can also take advantage of the venue’ s Black Friday sale *, offering 20 % off all activities at Archie Brothers, Strike Bowling and Holey Moley when booked online with the code CYBERFUN20. And for those hard-tobuy-for loved ones, Funlab’ s versatile gift cards provide the perfect present, redeemable across all venues for family outings, nights out or last-minute Christmas gifts.
Funlab CEO Michael Schreiber said the community’ s response has been overwhelming.
“ The reaction from the Hills District has been incredible,” he said.“ From the moment we rolled out the red carpet at the VIP launch, the buzz around the venue has been electric. We’ ve created a place where families, friends and colleagues can escape the everyday, connect through play and make lasting memories. The energy on opening night confirmed we’ ve really hit the mark.”
The venue has also been designed with celebrations in mind. Kids’ party packages start from $ 36 per child, with offers such as the‘ birthday child goes free’. For adults, the vibrant atmosphere, private spaces and flexible event packages make it ideal for group outings, date nights and corporate functions. With options to suit every taste and budget, Archie Brothers Castle Towers is set to become the Hills District’ s go-to destination for fun.
Perfectly positioned on Level 4 of the Piazza within Castle Towers Shopping Centre, the venue is easy to access and already drawing strong interest from locals.
BOOKINGS ARE NOW OPEN: Archie Brothers: archiebrothers. com. au / locations / castle-towers Holey Moley: holeymoley. com. au / locations / castle-towers Strike Bowling: strikebowling. com. au / locations / strike-castle-towers

WIN

We have a $ 200 Archie Bros voucher to give away!
Simply send us an email to info @ hdinews. com. au with ARCHIE BROS in the subject line and tell us why you would like to visit Archie Bros. Leave your name and contact number and go in the draw to win!
THE HILLS INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine. com. au MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY HOLIDAYS! ISSUE 126 // DECEMBER 2025 25