THISISPOPBABY’s WAKE: Blending trad and club culture to boldly reinterpret our understanding of Irishness

From the wildly creative minds that brought you RIOT, Alice in Funderland and more, THISISPOPBABY's WAKE makes its triumphant return to Dublin this month. Running from March 6-23 at the National Stadium, as a key part part of the St Patrick's Festival programme, it's shaping up to be the must-see theatrical event of the year – bringing together wild acrobatics, trad-with-a-twist, banging Irish tap, searing hot circus and outrageous cabaret.

Like THISISPOPBABY's previous productions, you can look forward to music playing an integral role in WAKE. Of course, as we've come to expect from the homegrown theatre company, this is no straightforward musical – from subverted dance and pop anthems, to trad classics remixed with an electro-pop beat. Irish culture is a forever-changing concept, and WAKE taps directly, and fearlessly, into that.

For instance – get ready for aerialist Aisling Ní Cheallaigh taking flight to a live Irish trad version of Robyn’s mega-hit 'Heartbeat', sung by Jade O’Connor. At another stand-out moment, dancers in bubblegum pink and yellow leotards with giant balloons on their heads perform Irish tap – to Major Lazer...

It's no wonder this new production of WAKE has already got people talking.

Credit: Ruth Medjber

WAKE also boasts a star-studded cast and crew, including directors Phillip McMahon – whose play Once Before I Go is on the Leaving Cert syllabus – and Jennifer Jennings, who also serves as the Arts Programme Director for Beyond the Pale. Both are co-founders of THISISPOPBABY, a groundbreaking company that's been dazzling audiences around the world for 17 years with an exhilarating mix of theatre, night club, festival and activism.

As well as featuring text by writer Carys D. Coburn, and set and graphic design by queer club-land legend Niall Sweeney, the renowned creatives involved in the production include poet and performer FELISPEAKS; world champion pole dancer Lisette Krol; costume designer Julian Smith; Irish tap dancing champion Michael Roberson; composer, musician and sound designer Alma Kelliher (aka Lux Alma); singer Adam Matthews of Phoeno; world-class aerialist Aisling Ní Cheallaigh; traditional musician Darren Roche of Moxie; dancer and singer Jade O'Connor; actor and singer Emer Dineen, and more...

Meet some of the #WAKETheShow company 🔥
We can’t wait to welcome you all to our sparkling production as we return to the @NationalStad tomorrow. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/58z7nBDVeu

— thisispopbaby (@thisispopbaby) March 5, 2024

WAKE originally premiered at the National Stadium in Dublin in September 2022, as part of the Dublin Fringe Festival.

For its current run at the National Stadium, from March 6-23, tickets start at just €25 plus booking fee – as part of THISISPOPBABY's commitment to making the arts accessible to all.

For more information, click here.