THE SHOW WAS STRONGEST DURING MORE INTIMATE MOMENTS OF TRADITIONAL MUSIC

By Madeleine Anderson ⭐⭐⭐ | Press Invite

Using traditional dancing and music, Eireann: A Taste of Ireland retells the story of the history of Ireland through drama and dance.

Eireann boasts a highly-skilled cast, with alumni of Riverdance and Lord of the Dance, bringing sharp moves and speedy steps to the performance. Whilst the ensemble pieces were impressive, the small size of the cast dulled the usually hypnotic beats of tap shoes and made for a quieter and less enchanting staging as a whole.

The show was strongest during more intimate moments of traditional music, with three darkly dressed musicians performing songs on stage. I wish there had been more of these moments throughout the show, which felt like it was trying to do much with too little time and too few performers.

Eireann was weakest when the cast, of undeniably skilled dancers, were acting on stage. During these scenes, the lines felt a little forced, with pantomime level gestures undermining gentler moments of singing and dance that appeared at other points in the show.

Eireann was impressive for the number of costume changes that dancers adeptly incorporated into the show, from simple white shirts and trousers to dazzling gold and glittery dresses, the pace and variety of the performances historical focus was told through quick costume changes which supported dancers who each took on multiple roles throughout the show.

The voice of a booming narrator was used to mark different moments – and different historical episodes – throughout the performance. This also added to the panto-feel, but did provide jokes and references that the audience clearly loved.

It was clear that the performers were having a great time on stage, with an energy and enthusiasm which beamed across every dancer’s face. This positivity made for a fun and engaging watch, but at times clashed against the tougher themes in the show (like famine and war), which (maybe intentionally) jarred awkwardly against the buoyancy of much of the show.

Eireann made good use of lighting and video throughout, with some dancers being filmed by a roving camera which projected performers emotive facial expressions and complex choreography across three white rectangular pillars which moved across the stage.

Eireann: A Taste of Ireland is being performed at the Peacock Theatre from Friday 29th August to Sunday 31st August.

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Photo Credit: DannyWithACamera