Dublin’s THISISPOPBABY’s dance, music and aerial artist spectacular almost held a wake of its own for WAKE. A week or so ago, the troupe landed in Australia, but their staging and props did not, and they had to quickly decide if the show goes on or not.
To the rescue came the Sydney theatre community, digging into stores for sets and props and suppling the skilled workers to put it all together. Last night the show did go on, and thank the luck of the Irish for that.
Based loosely around an Irish wake, the show explores the themes of life, death, memory, loss, joy and culture through a cracking series of artistic displays and live music that sets it apart from the many cabaret shows we have recently experienced.
Opening with a figure in silhouette keening a heart rendering lament, as mourners holding umbrellas gather around the thrust stage, what immediately sets this show apart is the strength of the vocal talent supported by a live band of four, that has been playing since the doors opened.
It makes all the difference to the show!
The collective catharsis begins with a drunk wandering into the proceedings. Performing the potentially dangerous pratfalls with ease is the very charismatic Philip Connaughton who interrupts the musicians and stumbles through the audience to Peggy Lee’s I Want To Be Seduced.
Connaughton is also a master of Irish tapping and jigging, which after sobering up he gets to display across the rest of the show, along with his stripper’s tassels.
We get to see the dance strength of this troupe when they gather on the stage for a tap routine that is spell binding in its execution, without the overt flash of Michael Flatley’s Riverdance spectacle.
Suddenly the wake is interrupted by shell-suited Duncan Disorderly (Emer Dineen), a DJ and the English cousin who bombs the proceedings and recurs later in the show with a hilarious dinner date scene. Another stand-out performer is Cristian Emmanuel Dirocie, who puts a new spin on breakdancing and also acts as an MC of sorts.
Jenny Tufts performs an aerial display with the hoop, something we have all seen before, but here is it done with considerable grace driven by the live band and skilful lighting. Likewise for Michael Roberson, who transitions from a tap routine to a very fine aerial display that takes all of his strength to pull off.
By far the show stopper on the night was the pole routine from Lisette Krol, a Venezuelan, who now lives in Ireland and has earned countless world pole championships. Seldom are grace and skill matched with jaw dropping displays of physical dexterity, which she appears to execute with ease.
Throughout the wake we are guided by FELISPEAKS as the High Priestess, supported by dancers Marisha Ruth Osowski, Jade O’Connor and musicians Alma Kelliher, Darren Roche, Lucia Mac Partlin, Ryan McClelland plus vocalist Adam Matthews.
As thinly as it is framed, WAKE connects with its audience through its humanity and story-telling of a universal fact of life, and death, only this time it is with a difference.
WAKE
Carriageworks (Bay 17), 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh (sydney)
Performance: Thursday 15 January 2026
Season continues to 25 January 2026
Information and Bookings: www.sydneyfestival.org.au
Images: THISISPOPBABY’s WAKE – photos by Neil Bennett
Review: John Moyle