Wake
Peacock Theatre and UK Tour
3/4/25
“Best known as an ancient funeral rite, the Irish wake is a celebration of transformation, of moving from one realm to another. Ushering in fabulous change – caterpillar to butterfly – the wake is a timeless reminder to live fully.
Experience WAKE, the electrifying Irish variety phenomenon that remixes traditions in an high-octane, heart-thumping celebration of life and connection.
Immerse yourself in our wild WAKE, where customs collide with club anthems, creating a euphoric soundtrack for a night filled with aerial artistry, tap, cabaret, slam poetry, pole-dancing and more.
Acclaimed Irish theatre company THISISPOPBABY invites you to witness an anthemic spectacle with the spirit of an epic trad session and the ecstatic energy of a stadium concert. After two sold-out, award-winning runs in Dublin, theatrical juggernaut WAKE makes its UK debut at the Peacock Theatre.
Expect joy, connection, release…and glitter.”
Review by Richard Lambert, 4 Stars
Backed by a live band on top of some fairly monumental tracks that were bangers, this show has a punch to it! The story is virtually non-existent but who cares when you can see a muscle-mary in gold speedos and tap shoes doing some Irish dancing.
For the most part this show never takes itself too seriously and that’s when it soars and is brilliant. But, one of the performers is sadly given way too much exposition and delivers mind-numbingly long poetic monologues that are quite boring.
If you can forget the monologues you’re in for a terrific evening!!! Just stunning, all very tongue in cheek and some of the best burlesque circus acts you’ll find.
The humour and performances are second to none, all staged on a multi-level set with a central sun piece in front of a collage cloth. It looks great and the band are great.
The cast are wonderful! Bringing so much experience, talent and skill into the mix along with a well-produced show that really got the audience going.
Photo credit: Ruth Medjber
Cast
Breakdance & MC Cristian Emmanuel Dirocie
Dancer / Neassa Deirdre Griffin
Vocals & Duncan Disorderly Emer Dineen
Storyteller FELISPEAKS
Dancer and Vocals / Siobhán Jade O’Connor
Pole Artist Lisette Krol
Irish Dancer & Aerial/BalloonHeads Michael Roberson
Drunk Uncle/Seduced/BalloonHeads Philip Connaughton
Aerial Hoop & Infin-eight Jenny Tufts
Artistic Team & Credits
Created by Jennifer Jennings, Phillip McMahon & Niall Sweeney
Directed by Jennifer Jennings & Phillip McMahon
With text by Carys D. Coburn
Composer, Sound Designer & Musical Director Alma Kelliher
Additional Composition Darren Roche
Choreographer Philip Connaughton
Assistant Choreographer Anderson De Souza
Associate Designer/Chief LX Peter Bond
Set & Graphic Design Niall Sweeney
Costume Design Julian Smith
Costume Supervisor Maeve Smyth
Original Lighting Design Mark Galione
Lighting Design for Tour Sarah Jane Shiels
Chief LX Peter Bond
Head of Sound Jason Fallon
Sound Engineer Kevin McGing
Stage Manager Olivia Drennan
Assistant Stage Manager & Counter Weight Ben Moore
Stage Hand Rory Donnelly
Deputy Stage Manager Rory Donnelly
Producers Carla Rogers & Matt Smyth
Line Producer Miles Harrigan
Production Managers Adam Fitzsimons & Des Kenny
General Manager Laura Rigney
Marketing Jack O’Dea
Marketing Agency AKA
Publicity Bread and Butter
Promotional Imagery by Niall Sweeney
Production Imagery by Ruth Medjber / Allen Kiely
Band
Lead Vocals Adam Matthews
Accordion Darren Roche
Keys, Vocals, Whistle Alma Kelliher
Fiddle Lucia Mac Partlin
Drums Ryan McClelland
Further info, Tour dates and tickets: Click here