Brent Pace’s Eireann: A Taste of Ireland takes the audience on an exhilarating journey through the length and breadth of Irish history, from the arrival of the Vikings to the present day, while not avoiding the dark periods of Irish history, such as the Great Famine and the Easter Uprising. It’s not all serious though, with a good deal of light-hearted and comedic moments and overall a feeling of warmth and joy.
The dancing can only be described as spectacular. Led by principal dancers Gavin Shevlin and Brittany Pymm, the company’s impressive energy and talent make every step look easy and light as air. The footwork is so fast, the athleticism and precision so perfect, it’s hard to believe that the performers are actually human. There is the traditional, Riverdance-style performance, before the show moves into fresher, more modern and innovative forms of Irish dance, all with exquisite and perfectly synchronised footwork. There are balletic sections, with a feel of contemporary dance, but the form always returns to the Irish traditional style, but with a more fluid approach.
Dominic Brennan’s accompanying sound design is bold, a heartbeat underlying the show. As well as a soundtrack, there’s a live three-piece band of guitar, fiddle and banjo (Aaron O’Grady, Megan McGinley, Eamonn O’Sullivan) who are every bit as talented as the dancers, with Brian Ó’Broin providing strong vocals on a series of Irish folk songs that has the audience singing and clapping along.
Jacki Cottom’s costumes are perfect, ranging from rustic outfits, workwear and caps for the men and traditional dance dresses for the women to suits and sparkly tops all fitting the telling of the narrative.
The setting to the show is provided by a projected backdrop of images of scenery, newspaper pages and street scenes from across history. These are not particularly clear or sharp, nor are the images projected from the on-stage steadicam. The steadicam content is an unnecessary embellishment. The stars of the show are the performers and while its inclusion doesn’t detract from the performance as a whole, the level of talent on display really doesn’t need this type of gimmick.
Imaginative and exhilarating, this is a thrilling, uplifting show that will linger in the memory. A sparkling night of craic.
Reviewer: Carole Gordon
Reviewed: 29th August 2025
North West End UK Rating:
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