A Fairytale for Christmas

A Fairytale for Christmas

A warm, festive show bursting with Irish spirit and Christmas cheer

A Fairytale for Christmas is a slightly different offering from this company, blending Irish influences with festive cheer. It leans into both traditions with an easy confidence, and the ensemble themselves feel like a celebration of the United Kingdom’s diversity. What begins as a simple Christmas showcase quickly grows into something warmer and more communal, thanks in large part to the performers’ charm and the audience’s eventual willingness to join in.

The curtain rises straight into a Christmas classic, setting the tone immediately. As is often the case with this sort of event, it takes the audience a little while to settle into the spirit of it all and decide whether we’re meant to sing along, clap in rhythm or simply sit back and watch. By the interval, however, any hesitation has long vanished. The merriment definitely picks up in the second half, and the crowd is more than happy to lend its voice, particularly during the Irish classic Seven Drunken Nights and, unsurprisingly, a selection of other Dubliners tunes. The atmosphere becomes noticeably more relaxed and celebratory, like being at a lively seasonal gathering rather than a formal theatre performance.

The production features five main cast members, all of whom rotate between singing, performing, and playing instruments depending on the tone of each piece. Caitlin Forbes is a standout, not only impressing the audience with her violin skills in the opening numbers but later revealing an equally strong and expressive vocal ability. Molly Farmer takes the lead on several of the more tranquil songs, offering a gentle contrast to the bigger, more boisterous ensemble moments. The remaining performers each bring their own flair, stepping forward for the upbeat numbers.

The dance aspect of the show is equally eclectic. The six core female dancers deliver the unmistakable rhythms and stylistic precision of traditional Irish dance, their footwork crisp and full of energy. Alongside the expected Irish choreography, the show introduces more contemporary influences, including high-energy pop-urban routines that add texture and variety to the overall programme. This blend of old and new feels intentional, an attempt to create a production that reflects Irish heritage while remaining accessible to a modern, multicultural audience.

It’s worth saying that A Fairytale for Christmas is unquestionably a fun night out. You can sing along, you can clap, and in many ways the show invites you to do both. Between the musical numbers and the dance sequences, the cast share moments of relaxed patter, anecdotes and light-hearted exchanges that help bridge the transitions and build rapport.

If you attend expecting a fully formed narrative “fairytale”, however, you may find that element missing. The show is set in New York, highlighting how people travel and connect across the world, but there is no storyline as such. Instead, the title appears to draw inspiration from the iconic Fairytale of New York, from which the production seems to take its loose thematic cue. For anyone wondering: yes, the song does feature, and the lyrics have been tastefully adjusted to avoid offence while preserving the spirit of the original.

This is a bright, festive, good-humoured production that delivers exactly what it promises: music, dance, and Christmas joy with an Irish twist.