Dancing at Lughnasa at Sheffield Crucible Review

DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW

Reviewed by Louise Edwards

Dancing at Lughnasa, a production from Sheffield Theatres and Royal Exchange theatre, and written by one of Ireland’s greatest dramatists, Brian Friel, currently is on at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre.

Set in rural Ireland in 1936 the drama is focused on the five Mundy sisters, who are all unmarried, and their brother, Jack. Tied together through duty and routine but each longing for something more they all share the house often living on the breadline .

The action takes place over a Summer and is narrated by seven year old Michael (the grown up played by Kwaku Fortune), son of Christina (played by Martha Dunlea, one of the sisters. Each sister is unique in their own way and their bond and love is stoic but the suppression is palpable. Kate (played by Natalie Radmall-Quirke) is the eldest and as a teacher the main breadwinner of the family. She is the sensible one and is increasingly worried about respectability, money and gossip in the town. Maggie (played by Siobhan O’Kelly) is raw and earthy, Rose (played by Rachel O’Connell) has mild learning difficulties and Agnes (played by Laura Pyper) make an income from sewing and making gloves.

Change is unavoidable as the industrial revolution puts hand sewing under threat and the arrival of Jack (played by Frank Laverty), who has returned from working as a catholic priest in Uganda. He is suffering with malaria but he also has new ideas and seems to have moved away from God, which is very unsettling to his devout household and also the concern of Kate’s headteacher who doesn’t renew her contract in the September leaving the family even more destitute.

Told through Michael’s eyes this summer the family have bought a radio, nicknamed Marconi which is temperamental but on the infrequent blasts of music the sisters come alive dancing around the living room in joyous rapture. The arrival of Gerry, Michael’s father (played by Marcus Rutherford) adds another layer to this memory play. He is charming but unreliable and he dazzles Christina (and Agnes) but his promises fade like his visits.

Directed by Elizabeth Newman with design by Francis O’Connor, lighting by Chris Davey and Sound by Pippa Murphy, the theatre itself is immersive and the audience sit around the stage which is below or level with the audience. The stage doesn’t change throughout and you can see the green hills in the background and the family’s main living space taking up most of the stage.

Dancing at Lughnasa is about memory, family and the tension between duty and desire and the way small joyful moments can shine despite hardship and deprivation. The first half of the play is very long at 1 hour 20 minutes and in some ways this seems to be laboured. Everyone gets on almost too well and it would have been interesting to see some conflict to acknowledge what they are missing out on.

Overall though this play leaves a lasting legacy and is a thought provoking insight into a time that is dwindling now but nevertheless had its many benefits.

Rating: 4/5

Tickets cost from £15

Dancing at Lughnasa is on at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield until Saturday 4 October 2024
For more information or to book tickets visit www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk or call the box office on 0114 249 6000

Crucible Theatre, 55 Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 1DA