It’s long overdue but Life Begins Magazine has not yet reviewed a show at Weymouth Pavilion – a popular and much loved local theatre. Based on the performance of “Irelands Call” we saw last night (Wed 2 March) it will be the first of many visits.
Weymouth Pavilion is an inspiring building just at the end of the esplanade in Weymouth; saved from demolition in 2013 the theatre is no longer council owned and is now run as a non for profit community interest group (C.I.C). The theatre itself boasts an impressive 988 seat auditorium split in to two sections of the stalls and circle. Like all elderly theatres renovation and upkeep is an ongoing expense and bit by bit the theatre is having her own make up done with the newly refurbished restaurant recently refurbished and re-opened. The theatre hall itself is quaint and not too deep ensuring wherever you sit in the auditorium you get a good view.
IRELAND’S CALL is a brand new musical show direct from Ireland, inspired by true events and spanning three decades, this uplifting musical follows the extraordinary journey of the strong-headed Sean Dempsey, who at the end of WW2 leaves behind his childhood sweetheart Cora and his beloved homeland Ireland, in search of a better life in the Big Apple.
The show is a musical adaptation of critically acclaimed production Essence of Ireland and features an exhilarating mix of original scores and well-known songs such as Galway Girl, Isle of Hope Isle Of Tears, I Loved Her First, Tell Me Ma, Irish Rover, plus an ensemble of some of the most talented dancers in the world
Throughout the show the music was brilliant and the dancing very good, midway through the show a troupe of local children who form part of the “Performance team from Julie Storey” interacted with the show performing an Irish dance routine. This team are a local troop from Weymouth which caters for children from age 7 years up to a couple of professional dancers. Toe tapping audience participation was a must as the show came to an end we were all up dancing and singing, with such a feel good feeling this show offers, it is one show I would 
definitely see again.
The Pavilion Weymouth has some great shows and events taking place all throughout the year and you can keep up with what’s on by visiting their website www.weymouthpavilion.com or by following them on their social media channels on twitter on Facebook and on Instagram
To find out about Julie Storey’s Lets Dance you can visit their website here
The show is now on a UK tour which started in February and runs through until 5th May, in all there are 43 remaining dates (as of 2 March 2016) and locally you can still catch this incredible show at:
- Salisbury – City Hall, 5 March
- Bournemouth – Pavilion, 22 March
- Portsmouth – Kings Theatre, 13 April
- Yeovil – Octagon Theatre, 29 April
You can find the rest of the UK tour dates here
Reviewed by Sandra Case March 2016