A CELTIC CHRISTMAS by a Taste of Ireland - Canberra Theatre

"A Celtic Christmas" dancers in action.

Directed and choreographed by Brent Pace

 Co-Directed and Co- choreographed by Ceili Moore

Musical Direction by Charlie Galloway – Set Design Gavin Leahy

Sound and Video design by Jack Kearney.

Performed by Mitchell O’Hara – Callum O’Neill – Tom Doherty – Cathal Doughan - Declan McLaughlin – Ciaren Keogh – Joey Roca – Rochelle Hoffman – Meagan Urbanek – Aoibhin Kenneally – Emma Martin – Eleanor Murray – Minnie Yarnold – Bella Masters.

Presented by Pace Live’s A Taste of Ireland – Canberra Theatre – December 12, 2025.

Reviewed By BILL STEPHENS

The cast of "A Celtic Christmas"

A very specific dance style, Irish dance is characterised by upright posture, rigid torso, and rapid footwork, accompanied by fiddles, pipes and drums.

As with classical ballet, exponents usually commence learning the techniques at an   early age, then perfect those skills by participating in competitions initially at fairs and social gatherings.

In 1994 a seven-minute interval dance presentation by Michael Flatley and Jean Butler during the Eurovision Song Contest sparked world-wide interest in Irish dance, leading to the creation of the stage show Riverdance in 1995.  Riverdance combined Irish dance with theatrical elements and became a global sensation.

 A Taste of Ireland grew out of this interest in Celtic dance and for more than ten years has been touring the world in various iterations. A Celtic Christmas by A Taste of Ireland is its flagship Christmas production.

Rochelle Hoffman and the cast of "A Celtic Christmas"

A Celtic Christmas presents a captivating blend of Irish tunes with upbeat arrangements of Christmas carols, all wrapped up in a pretty package of colourful costumes and theatricalised Irish dance. The show provides a delightful evening of feel-good entertainment along with some truly spectacular Irish dancing performed before a huge painted backdrop depicting a cosy room with blazing fire, augmented with a giant video screen utilised for locale changes. 

Although there is a story included that’s meant to connect the impressive group dancing, but the rigid Irish dance technique isn’t really conducive to storytelling so that the production numbers devised to support the storyline, although spectacular, often felt contrived.

The singer and musicians for "A Celtic Christmas"

Particularly as the dance numbers were interrupted by items performed live by a singer, a fiddle player and a guitarist, subtly enhanced by a pre-recorded soundtrack; ostensibly to provide time to allow the dancers to change costumes, but being traditional Irish songs and music, appeared to have nothing to do with the story being told.

Regretfully that trio shall have to remain nameless as there is no reference to them either in the printed program or the A Celtic Christmas website.   

But it was the dancing that the audience had come to see, and in that area, this troupe is very impressive indeed. Among the talented ensemble cast are some who have danced in productions of Riverdance and Lord of the Dance around the world, and most rank among the top ten world title holders for their Irish dance skills.

Mitchell O'Hara and Rochelle Hoffman in action during "A Celtic Christmas"

Led by Mitchell O’Hara and Rochelle Hoffman as the lovers, commoner Oisin and Princess Ava, they perform a succession of spectacular, inventively choreographed group routines.

While the first half of the program impressed with its impressive energy, discipline and attention to detail, after interval, the pace slackened alarmingly with the inclusion of obvious padding.

A long sequence involving the male ensemble pretending to be blokey carollers performing poorly sung carols, seemed superfluous. Had the performers attempted harmonies and treated the carols with respect, it may have had some point. But as presented, the singing was raucous and performed in a manner likely to offend Tom in the audience to whom those particular carols have significance.

Mitchell O'Hara in action during "A Celtic Christmas"

There was also a long solo by O’Hara in which he demonstrated his impressive dancing virtuosity. As skilled and charming as he is, however, his propensity to shamelessly milk his applause, caused him to overstay his welcome.

This was time that could have been more interestingly devoted to devising more opportunities for individual ensemble members to demonstrate their obvious mastery of the dancing technique the audience had come to see. 

Mitchell O"Hara - Rochelle Hoffman and some of the cast of "A Celtic Christman"




Photos supplied.



This review also published in AUSTRALIAN ARTS REVIEW. www.artsreview.com.au