REVIEW: Lord of the Dance - 30th Anniversary Tour
One of the most fiery, most thrilling, and most energetic dance shows in theatre history is back in Birmingham to celebrate 30 years of spreading joy.
Lord of the Dance - 30th Anniversary Tour is now playing at The Alexandra Theatre.
Has it really been 30 years since Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance stunned theatre audiences with a show that took Irish dancing and placed it upon the world’s stage in a truly spellbinding manner?
Director, creator, producer and choreographer Michael Flatley has said many times that his mission with Lord of the Dance is to spread joy across the world. If there is an Award for mission accomplished it should be immediately handed to Flatley in a heartbeat.
The keyword that best describes this sensational tonic of a show is joy. The audience immediately feels that vibe as soon as they enter the theatre’s foyer, the atmosphere is electric, there’s a buzz in the air, and the energy and excitement are palpable.
All of that of uplifting energy is felt even before the curtain goes up.
And when the curtain does go up it takes the breath away as the stage becomes a dazzling array of light, dance, music, and theatrical delights the likes of which stir the body and soul.
In a world where the news drips with negative energy, where darkness prowls around the world, and where division is screamed from every social media platform, this show holds up a beautiful light of hope and spirituality that celebrates the magic of love.
The show has a good-versus-evil narrative that taps into Celtic mythology to tell a story of the Lord of the Dance, who upholds light and hope, overcoming the Dark Lord who plots to conquer, destroy and extinguish the light of freedom.
The storytelling in the show is told through the visual vocabulary of the human body, every dance movement conveys the nuance of communication, and the music joins in to further add details and emotions that heighten the message.
The stage becomes a metaphorical place of worship, the dance becomes a poetic prayer, and the music hearkens and pulses like the sound of a choir. The material evokes the spirit of humanity in search of freedom during a period of tyranny and oppression.
At a time when the lines between reality and artificiality are being blurred by AI technology across all spheres of existence it is so refreshing to see something as earthy, organic, natural, and real as the kinetic dancing in this show. The immediacy, the passion, and the atmosphere of this live show heightens and elevates the experience beyond anything offered by AI.
Composer Gerard Fahey’s music furrows the fertile grooves of Celtic music which merges with exquisite lyricism into the Irish dancing that is so infectious that almost everyone in the theatre, staff included, were tapping along with.
The cast and crew of this show bring a dynamic element that reaches into the mind of the audience. Every member, whether on stage dancing or behind-the-scenes with the sets, costumes, lighting, sound, etc, weave and work together to produce a truly unforgettable night at the theatre.
The dancers involved in this 30th Anniversary Tour display natural charm and charisma, and every role - from the core dancers, ensemble, and musicians - is conveyed with incredible concentration and athleticism, and every detail is brought to the fore with fiery and dramatic passion that requires a reservoir of stamina.
Cleo Griffin, who sings the role of Erin the Goddess, has haunting vocals that sprinkle serenity and a gentle equilibrium to the show.
Evia Hayter (the waif-like Little Spirit) is mesmerising as she joyfully plays her penny whistle and hops and skips across the stage while leading the audience into the world of the Lord of the Dance. Despite her size and elfish spirit, Hayter displays strength and resilience. She is melodious and infectious, and whenever she spears in a scene she immediately casts a spell upon the audience and hypnotises them.
The fiddle players, Niamh Leahy and Siofra Devine, not only play their instruments live on stage but also dance along while wearing high heels. Each note from their fiddles and the tapping of their shoes propels the narrative in an intoxicating manner. Their flow is immaculate, miraculous, and otherworldly.
Lucas Lawton, one of the show’s dance captains, is a powerhouse as the Lord of the Dance. His natural magnetism and charming presence, combined with a deep pool of strength, had the audience roaring their approval at the end of each dance number.
The soothing feminine energy in the Celtic themed show is highlighted by the ethereal and haunting character of Saoirse. Katie Coates (Saoirse) glows like a fairy princess and every movement and step is infused with a magical aura.
The enchantress Morrighan, one of the Dark Lord’s servants, is seductively brought to life by dancer Erin McPolin who also multitasks in the show as a dance captain. She is lithe and sultry, and her suggestive steps, and swaying hips are like those of a feline about to get her paws into a jar of cream.
The choreography in the show is dazzling and breathtaking, with every single dancer performing in perfect harmony and synchronisation, weaving in and out of lines and circles at breakneck speeds. Each dance piece climaxed with thunderous applause from the audience.
It was absolutely astounding, and a testament to the quality of talent on stage, that there was never a moment when a dancer made a mistake or there was a collision or mishap.
The professionalism and dedication on display upon The Alexandra stage in Birmingham was truly awe-inspiring.
The costume design by Yvette Alida Kovács and Niamh Flatley are a blaze of colour and style. The outfits for the various characters, including the multitudes of dancers from the realms of Light and Dark, are a blaze of colours and tones, at times sparkling and sizzling, and at others dark and sombre and imbued with Gothic mystique.
Some of the fabrics and materials of the costumes rippled and moved as if alive on the bodies of the dancers. The imaginative designs captured the essence of the central themes of the show.
The art design employs clever back projections to transport the audience to the world inhabited by the Dark Lord which is filled with primordial darkness and desolation through to hellish infernos where tormented souls rage and writhe. The dark and infernal backdrops contrasted with realm of light where the Lord of the Dance exists in emerald fields speckled with glittering trees that sway in the wind. Much of the footage will resonate with the current state of the world.
This was a firework of a show, a rainbow of musical delights, fizzing with high energy and thrilling to watch. The exquisite lighting and pyrotechnic effects were impressive and added a brilliant ambience to the dancing and singing.
The deep blacks and reds generated the heat of hellfire and chaos while the whites and greens brought the balm of coolness and freedom.
Lord of the Dance - 30th Anniversary Tour is a tour de force in every department, and it deserves all the accolades and praise heaped upon it.
This is a special show that restores hope, rejuvenates the human spirit, warms the heart, and makes you smile and dance as you leave the theatre.
Dance, dance, wherever you may be, the Lord of the Dance is back in town!
Verdict: ★★★★★
Lord of the Dance - 30th Anniversary Tour is now running at The Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham until Sunday 4th October 2026
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