SHOPPERS at one of the region’s leading retail venues will be able to celebrate Alice in Wonderland by the seaside this month.
To coincide with the 150th anniversary of Lewis Carroll’s novel, Alice in Wonderland, Sunderland’s Bridges shopping centre, has created an indoor beach, which will host a number of free events throughout August.
The beach will be open throughout the month, with a number of special Alice-related events.
The first event, on Thursday, August 6, will give shoppers the chance to listen to Alice tell stories about her adventures in Wonderland, including falling down the rabbit hole and meeting the caterpillar.
The storytelling event, which will run from 12pm until 4pm, will include the chance to have a photo taken with Alice and a story at quarter past every hour.
On Thursday, August 27 visitors will also be able to get involved in a number of Alice-related craft activities, including working together to help create a large mural dedicated to all things Alice and Sunderland.
“We’re always looking for ways to enhance our visitors shopping experience and with the anniversary of such an iconic novel this year, what better way to do it,” said Andy Bradley, Centre Director at the Bridges.
“These events will be fun for anybody who wants to come along and we will also be using them to support some great local causes too.”
After both events shoppers will be able to meet the rest of Alice’s friends including the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter, the Queen of Hearts, the Cheshire Cat, the caterpillar, the doormouse and playing card number 5.
The characters in and around beach from 6pm until 8pm to meet shoppers and have their photos taken with them.
The two main events are being run by North East Theatre Space, which specialises in creating dramatic productions in unconventional spaces.
The Bridges beach will be open Monday to Wednesday and Friday and Saturday, from 10am until 4pm, on Thursday from 10am until 7:30pm and on Sunday from 11am until 4pm.
Entry to the beach is £1 and 50p of every entry will be donated to the Rotary Club of Seaburn Satellite Club to help support local causes.
For more information about the Bridges Beach and the events throughout August visithttp://www.thebridges-shopping.com/.