A TASTE OF IRELAND
Forget the plane ticket – a little slice of the Emerald Isle is coming to town.
WORDS BROOKE GIBBS
DIRECT FROM OFF-BROADWAY and London’s West End, the internationally acclaimed A Taste of Ireland: The Irish Music & Dance Sensation brings its high-energy celebration of Irish music, dance and storytelling to Darwin.
Think world-class Irish dancers, toe-tapping tunes, plenty of laughs and enough infectious energy to have the whole audience feeling like they’ve been handed a pint and invited to the best céilí in town.
Performed by former World Irish Dance champions, the cast brings together seasoned professionals fresh from London’s West End, including dancers from the company’s own productions Éireann, Lord of the Dance, and Riverdance. Joining them is a new generation of talent, including rising stars fresh from the top placings at this year’s World Irish Dance Championships.
“A Taste of Ireland is a live Irish dance and music production that transports the audience through Ireland’s tumultuous history. It begins at the start of Ireland’s story, taking you on a journey through historical moments such as the Viking invasion, the Easter rising, the Great Famine, and continuing to modern-day Ireland,” says Assistant Tour Manager Callum O’Neill.
“Because A Taste of Ireland is a live show, it feels personal to every audience. We have a lot of moments where we break the fourth wall and really play off the crowds, giving them a chance to get involved in the story of the show.”
For those that have been there, A Taste of Ireland is a nostalgic trip straight back to the land of rolling green hills, lively pubs and music spilling into the streets. For those with Irish parents or grandparents, it’s a chance to reconnect with the songs, stories and traditions passed down through generations.
“The whole show is one big emotional roller coaster – there are so many different characters you have to portray,” says O’Neill.
“There are definitely more emotional moments in the show where we fuse a little bit of contemporary dancing with Irish dancing, and I feel these moments can definitely pull at the heartstrings. The moment that gets me during the show is always the very end – just seeing all of the audience standing up cheering and clapping is such an immense feeling.
“It is absolutely amazing being able to share the stage with such a phenomenal cast. Not only do we have some of the best dancers, but our musicians are also incredibly talented.”
One thing O’Neill wants the Darwin audience to take away with them is to learn something about the story of Ireland and their culture.
“I feel like everyone always says they have some form of Irish descent, so if we can help them reconnect with that, that would be amazing.”
A Taste of Ireland: The Irish Music & Dance Sensation
WHEN THU 24 SEP | 7.30PM
AT AANT CENTRE COST $49.90-$94.90
INFO yourcentre.com.au
