Celtic Throne to bring groundbreaking Irish Dance production to the M&S Bank Arena

A pioneering new stage production blending traditional Irish dance with cinematic storytelling and original orchestration will make its UK debut this summer.

Celtic Throne – Psalter of Ireland is set to tour the country for the first time, following an acclaimed run across the United States.

The production will open at Birmingham Symphony Hall on 22 June, before visiting major cities including Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, and Derby, culminating in a finale performance at London’s Eventim Apollo.

Celtic Throne reimagines Irish dance for a modern audience, integrating elements of theatre, gymnastic movement, martial arts, and large-scale digital visuals. Performed by a cast of over 40 dancers and live musicians, the show is noted for its ambitious choreography, striking set design, bespoke costuming, and the use of LED video storytelling.

Director Brad Macdonald describes the show as a genre-defying experience:

“Imagine taking a classic Irish dance show, like Riverdance, and fusing it with a West End musical and a Hollywood movie. This is just one of many reasons Celtic Throne is truly an incomparable experience.”

The production has previously toured over 70 venues across the United States, including a performance at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium, former home of the Grand Ole Opry. The UK tour marks a significant milestone for the company, which is made up of US-based Irish dancers trained under the guidance of John Carey, an eight-time World Champion and former lead of Lord of the Dance.

“We’re staggered by the opportunity to bring our show to the UK, the home of Celtic culture, and share it with an audience that really appreciates the legacy of Celtic culture and dance,” said Macdonald.

The show’s narrative draws inspiration from ancient Irish annals, particularly the legend of Ollav Fola, a revered sage. The musical score has been composed by Brian Byrne, a Golden Globe-nominated composer whose work spans theatre, film and collaborations with globally recognised artists such as Bono and Sinead O’Connor.

Commenting on the cast, Macdonald added:

“Audiences love our youth. We have some world-class dancers, literally in the top 10 in their age-bracket, but our younger dancers always steal the show—they melt hearts in every city we visit.”

Lead choreographer and principal dancer Jude Flurry said:

“Celtic Throne embraces the legacy of Irish dance, but also explores exciting new frontiers. We have all the traditional fancy footwork and formidable stomps that fans know and love, but it’s also fresh and innovative. We’re doing things on stage—with martial arts and acrobatics, with props, even using some AI to enhance our dancing—that is totally new.”

His sister, Vienna Flurry, who is also a lead choreographer and vocalist in the production, reflected on her experience:

“I’m living my dream! I’m not just in a world-class show dancing and singing to amazing music written by one of the greatest Irish composers of our time, I’m on stage with my brother, my cousins and my closest friends. We all love what we do, we’re so incredibly thankful for what we have, and we love to share it with the audience!”

Macdonald concluded:

“Celtic Throne is the ultimate family show. Most of the cast and crew is literally formed of brothers and sisters, cousins, mums and dads. This is another element that makes us so unique. Celtic Throne was made by families for families and it celebrates family—the family chemistry is palpable and audiences are genuinely moved by it.”

Find more information about Celtic Throne on the M&S Bank Arena website.

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