Jabberwocky, an adult pantomime by Andrew Kay, Malcolm Middleton and Peter Phillips,[1][2] is a musical based on the English 1871 poem of the same name by Lewis Carroll.

Other plot elements also are derived from mentions in the poem, such as the vorpal sword and the tumtum tree, and words like manxome and frumious are casually used by characters in their dialogue.

The show begins with a scene-setting wordless prologue, "Brillig", which introduces the mythical characters, the mimsy borogoves, the slithy toves, and the mome raths.

This he will do with the Squire, and when he returns, he will be married to the Lady, who is asked to sing the townsfolks’ favourite song, "in the ancient tongue" ("Der Jammerwoch").

The Father, Son, Lady and townsfolk wish him well ("Cliché song"), and when all have left the stage, the heralds appear in a musical interlude and sing about his adventures on his quest ("Search for a legend").

But they decide to continue the quest and the mimsy borogoves and slithy toves encourage them in a large-scale production number ("Tulgey Wood").

The Bandersnatch and Squire taunt the captive Son and Jubjub Bird ("Torture Tango") but they escape by means of a coup de théâtre; the chains securing the Son and the Jubjub Bird fall away and a crazy chase ensues, culminating with their escape.

The Son returns to the village where he is greeted with great acclaim ("Finale (There's just no doubt about it)"), but he wanders disconsolately among the folk and his eventual departure is not noticed.

The show eschews the traditional happy ending as it suggests that slaying the Jabberwock has had some unknowable but undesirable effect on the ecology of the environment.

[1] Presented by University of Western Australia Undergraduate Choral Society, who commissioned the electronic music "Brillig" and "Gillirb".