With an obvious title for an evening of Irish entertainment, it would be expected that perhaps a mixture of Irish songs and dancing might be in order – and that is what we get. With the sprite-like Olivia Graydon leading the ensemble, a treat is awaiting for fans of Irish dancing. Some of her professional grounding has been with Lord of the Dance, Riverdance and Irish Celtic, and she certainly knows her technique. Supported by four other talented Irish dancers and an energetic group of four tap dancers, a delightful display of complicated tap stomps and flings makes for an entertaining evening in an Irish-tap dance fusion.
Tom Ball is in and off stage to show off his fine tonal voice. He sings to support the dancers, gives solo renditions and is sometimes accompanied by a group of singers. They cover Irish ballads such as Whisky in the Jar, sea shanties and pop. Eight female singers are dotted around the audience which gives a good resonance to the performance.
The overall effect is one of vibrancy and intimacy thanks to the set-up of the recently refurbished Emerald Theatre (2017). The front part of the house is laid out with tables and chairs – but I did wonder where the food was, not even any snacks. The dancers and singers combine into a sort of cabaret act, fitting for an establishment which had its roots in music hall when it opened in 1898.
Olivia Graydon’s energy and light-footed leaps is matched by the exuberant Bayley Graham who shows off his expert tap routines with aplomb. Said to be ‘redefining what it means to be a tap dancer in the modern era,’ my guess is that he made up his solo routines himself as they are the best choreography in the show, though it is all highly skilled. His cheeky grin and Jim Carrey-like personality pushes his whole performance to another level creating a vitality which spins the show.
The only theme to this whole creation (apart from the Irish one, and that is not consistent as there is lots of other types of music, but that is to their advantage) is a sort of ‘West-Side Story’ dance-off between two groups of dancers which gives them space to show off their various expertise. When the choreography reaches its heights, the dancers prove their worth with vigour and skill. I would have liked to have seen each one given more of a chance to shine. The stand-out performance in the show is the ballet duet between James Wakeling and Lizzie Pitt, both notable for their poise and grace.
It is an enjoyable series of turns with something for everyone, but the problem for me (and only a slight one) is that the mix of the singing and the dancing doesn’t quit gel. It makes it feel a slightly bitty. Maybe it could be turned into a musical with a good book to knit songs and dance together?
Singers: Tom Ball plus ensemble
Dancers: Olivia Graydon, Bayley Graham, James Wakeling, James Worthing, Lizzie Pitt, Olivia Leanne Grainge, Brooklyn, Florence Georgia, Sophie Parris
Choreographers: Adams Garcia, Samantha Heather
Directors: Adams Garcia, Samantha Heather, Tom Newman
Performances: 2-7th September 2025
Running Time: 2 hours including 20 mins interval