Spotlight On: The Maddest of Hatters, Jonah
2-minute read // Published by Young Peoples Theatre, April 2025
Written by: Chelsea Willis
Pictured: Jonah Thompson, Onstage as the Mad Hatter in Disney’s Alice in Wonderland JR.
The Mad Hatter, is one of the most recognisable characters in Alice in Wonderland. Quirky, eccentric and a little mysterious, the Mad Hatter is a audience favourite during Disney’s Alice in Wonderland JR. The role is played by two YPT student’s Jonah Thompson and Brielle McGugan who alternate in the role. We recently spoke with Jonah about his experience playing this iconic role.
Now in Year 10, Jonah has been with YPT since early primary school and is an excellent student in both Drama and Tech Classes. Jonah has previously performed in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and has been backstage on many shows, most recently the very difficult production of Into the Woods, where he navogated the tech for the complicated music score. Jonah was a finalist in our YPT Remembers Reuben Scholarship in 2022. Jonah is known around YPT for making up crazy and imaginative character stories, and has many character voices in his back pokcet to share with us all. Jonah also recently joined us on our Performing Arts Tour to England and France and enjoyed getting inspiration for his character at places like Disneyland and the Storytime Museum.
Q. Who is the Mad Hatter?
Jonah: The Mad Hatter is actually a long-lost prince from a far away land who ran away to Wonderland to begin the tea revolution. On the journey he found this rabbit looking thing and gave it some magic tea to bring it to life. Together the Mad Hatter and the March Hare created the Underground Tea Society and have daily Unbirthday parties at their house, far away from the Queen of Heart’s castle.
Q. What makes the Mad Hatter so mad?
Jonah: The Mad Hatter’s years of tea experimentation and innovation have resulted in his body becoming 65% tea instead of water, thus he is nearly tea and that’s why he is mad.
Q. What has the rehearsal process been like for Alice in Wonderland?
Jonah: The rehearsal process for Alice in Wonderland has been a lot of fun and I’ve enjoyed working with the directors and all the cast members. We spent most of term one working on the show and I think that it has turned into an entertaining and in places, slightly unhinged production.
Q. How would you celebrate your own Un birthday?
Jonah: Well, I like to start my Un birthday with a large-scale tea party, then I usually head off to some exotic country for a little brunch and sightseeing. Then I duck into Wonderland to have lunch with some friends then I’ll hopefully be back home in time for another tea party to end off the day.
Q. Why should people see Disney’s Alice in Wonderland JR?
Jonah: I think that people should come see Disney’s Alice in Wonderland JR. at YPT because I’m in it, but seriously it is a very fun show, and it would be great if you could come and support the cast and crew as we have all worked very hard to make this fantastic production a reality.
Come along and see Jonah along with 71 more YPT students in our most recent YPT Production!
Disney’s Alice in Wonderland JR. runs until 24 May at YPT Theatre. Tickets from $25 – book at ypt.org.au
