25 Years Of Lord Of The Dance, New Theatre Oxford Review
TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW.
Reviewed by Joanna Woodburn
The most successful touring show in entertainment history, Michael Flatley’s Lord Of The Dance, is now on tour and showing at the New Theatre Oxford.
The New Theatre Oxford is a superb venue for an evening of delightful entertainment. Situated right in the centre of this historic university city, The New Theatre has a spacious auditorium, with comfortable seating and ample leg room and is completely access friendly.
It is astounding to think that since its premiere, Michael Flatley’s Lord Of The Dance has toured every continent and been enjoyed by over 60 million people in 60 countries and in over 1000 venues! As one of the most successful dance productions of all time, Lord Of The Dance transformed and elevated Irish Dancing to new levels and with worldwide recognition.
As director and choreographer, Michael Flatley has revived and updated the original masterpiece with truly dazzling results. Incorporating seven Lord Of The Dance performances from the original show, it perfectly balances nostalgia for old fans as well as being refreshingly updated for a new generation of audiences.
Seeing is believing – with over 150,000 taps per show and showcasing the talents of the exceptional cast who command the stage from start to finish. As you get swept along by the incredible spectacle, the rise and fall of moving story telling is never lost as the good versus evil plot unfolds. From the gentle lull created by the mesmerising Cassidy Ludwig as Little Spirit through to the intense, frenetic multi-sensory simply brilliant ensemble numbers, the result is deeply moving.
The exceptionally talented Matt Smith as The Lord Of The Dance really does give it his all, defeating his foot stomping enemies with command and panache! There are so many jaw dropping visual moments, at times it is hard to take it all in and along with the amazing dance there is note perfect vocals and fabulous fiddle-playing thrown in. All the cast work tremendously hard, making the most of every minute to make the show the best it can be.
As the show nears its climax, there is a very clever video projection of the original Lord Of The Dance, Michael Flatley himself, perfectly positioned at the top of the stage and as always, a joy to watch.
25 years later, this fresh, powerhouse presentation of The Lord of the Dance stands the test of time and will captivate and entertain. The show is simply stunning and to sum it up, is a must-see not to be missed experience.
Huge congratulations to all the cast and crew, After 25 years of standing ovations, this show was no exception – there are bound to be many, many ovations to come!
Rating: 5/5
Tickets cost from £13.00 plus transaction fee of £3.65
25 Years of Lord Of The Dance is at New Theatre, Oxford from Tues 7 June – Sat 11 June 2022, for more information or to book tickets visit https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/25-years-of-lord-of-the-dance/new-theatre-oxford/ or call 0333 009 6690
24-26 George St, Oxford OX1 2AG