A Celtic Christmas brings the seasonal cheer and celebration, from Irish dance company A Taste of Ireland.
If you have ever experienced Riverdance and Lord of the Dance, especially in their heydays of the Eighties and Nineties, then you would be familiar with the big dance numbers that were on display tonight.
The 14 dancers who appear tonight have participated in versions of those two productions, as well as competing favourably in recent world championships.
Prominent as a soloist is dance captain Mitchell O’Hara. Born in New Zealand and raised in Ireland, so he’s making a return home.
With him are second soloist Callum O’Neill, and ensemble dancers Tom Doherty, Cathal Doughan, Liam Fitzgerald, Ciaran Keogh and Joey Roca.
They are matched by the lovely young female dancers, with Rochelle Hoffman, who starts the evening with some solo pirouettes, and then quickly joined by the ensemble dancers, Ella Giammichele (also a soloist), Aoibhan Kenneally, Emma Martin, Eleanor Murray, Minnie Yarnold, Nicole Kelly and Keely O’Grady.
There are three musicians who provide the live music tonight. They are an integral part of the show tonight.
Orla Flanaghan, a fiddle player who stands out as a virtuoso of traditional Celtic airs, whilst adding little Gypsy Jazz flourishes to add a little extra spice. Rory McLaughlin, acoustic guitarist who generally keeps to the rhythmic pulse.
Singer Ben Carr whose lyrics get a little lost in the echoey muddy mix from the sound desk. A shame, as when he has a few solo spots acapella, he has a fine tenor voice.
They run through a number of traditional jigs and reels, including familiar favourites like Whiskey in The Jar.
We are welcomed to the evenings show by an unseen MC. He promises us a night of good craic.
The first set piece is understandably set in a pub. Conveying the atmosphere of the old-fashioned English taverns, and the many Irish ones I experienced when I worked in London in the early Nineties. I did develop a Guinness after work habit back then.
The tap-dancing itself comes at speed and creates a massive percussion wall of sound. Feet appear to move in a blur, especially as the dance captain takes several solos.
The rhythms are a musical language in itself. At times they can sound like African talking drums. At others they are as fast and rapid as the best tabla players. Like Alla Rakha who was a long-time collaborator with Ravi Shankar.
The dancers go through a series of set-pieces, set to Christmas pop themes like Santa Claus Is Coming to Town and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
Saved from cheesiness by the strong Irish swing added by the musicians.
The second half of the show sees a more adult shift.
The young women are dressed as Las Vegas showgirls, and it is a cabaret atmosphere. The men come out attired in black waistcoats. The costume changes more numerous and varied in the second half.
The set piece with masks is reminiscent of the infamous Eyes Wide Shut occult ritual centrepiece.
Christmas comes back in a hurry with an extended workout adapted from the Twelve Days of Christmas. The singer’s voice has suddenly lost the booming echo, and with the violinist taking sharp acute solos, it is one of the highlights of the night.
It is easy to be captivated by the dazzle and sheer sonic power of the exhilarating dance routines,
A Celtic Christmas is playing across New Zealand theatres up to 10 December 2025, before moving on to Australia.
Rev. Orange Peel
Discover more from Red Raven News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.