Riverdance: 25th anniversary show coming to Hull

Record-breaking theatrical show Riverdance comes to Hull’s Bonus Arena later this month.

Riverdance: The New 25th Anniversary Show, will be performed at the venue on Saturday, October 30, from 4pm.

The touring show was delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic, which lead dancer Bobby Hodges called “confusing and upsetting for all of us. For the arts world these last 18 months have felt like a loss”.

Hodges kept in shape during lockdown with boxing, pilates, and time in the gym, and said on behalf of the cast: “The minute that the show was forced to close last year we were waiting for this green light. This is unfinished business and we can’t wait.”

Fellow lead dancer Amy-Mae Dolan said: “Whilst in lockdown I danced almost every day. It was hard at first because it made me sad as I was missing the show so much.

“We are ecstatic to be back. Some of us could not believe it at first, it was almost overwhelming but the rehearsal room feels somehow magical, the show is going to be everything we have wanted for 18 months.

“It was a dream to be in the show previously, now it’s a dream to be back.”

The anniversary show is described as “a powerful and stirring reinvention of this beloved family favourite”.

Composer Bill Whelan has rerecorded his soundtrack, while producer Moya Doherty and director John McColgan have reimagined the show with innovative and spectacular lighting, projection, stage and costume designs.

In the 25 years since Riverdance first emerged onto the world stage, the show has played 12,160 performances to a live audience of over 28 million people in 47 countries.

It has reached a global television audience of over 300 billion.

UK audiences first saw Riverdance in 1995 with ten weeks of sold out shows in the Eventim Apollo Hammersmith in London. This was followed by 11 sell-out tours of England, Scotland and Wales.