Review: Emerald Storm

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Photo by Nick Brooker

Due to popular demand, Emerald Storm is back in London for a limited run at the Emerald Theatre until 14 December.

If you like a mix of tap, Irish dancing, and live music, this show is absolutely something you should check out.

From the moment you walk into the venue, you’re met with the most gorgeous live tunes from the house band (Fiddlin' About). It instantly sets the mood and makes you feel like you’ve already stepped into the world of the show. The venue itself is stunning, not a typical auditorium at all. The seats are super comfortable, there’s actual space for drinks, and the whole atmosphere feels relaxed and intimate in the best possible way. It already feels like a good night out before anything has even started.

The show is co-produced and co-choreographed by Adam Garcia, and you can definitely tell it’s created by someone who knows exactly how to blend styles without losing the essence of what makes each one special. It’s this amazing fusion of traditional Irish dance, tap, and live vocals, and the cast, Olivia Graydon, Bayley Graham, Tom Ball, and more, completely shine. The footwork, the stamina, the musicality, the vocals… I kept catching myself watching with my mouth open because the level of talent on that stage is insane.

What I really appreciated was the balance. You get singing, but not so much that it takes over the dancing. And the dancing is front and centre, but there are still those lovely vocal moments that give you a breather. It never feels too heavy in one direction, which I think is really hard to get right — but here, it’s genuinely perfect.

One of my favourite parts was the dance battles between the tap dancers and the Irish dancers. They’re so fun to watch, and I still have no idea how these people move their feet that fast. The contrast between the two styles looked incredible onstage.

And then there’s the audience participation at the end, which I absolutely loved. If you want, you can go up and try your own little tap or Irish dance solo. It’s such a wholesome, energizing way to end the show, and seeing the audience join in genuinely made the atmosphere even better.

Overall, Emerald Storm is energetic, feel-good, and completely different from your usual West End night. If you’re looking for a show in London that mixes dance, music, and something a bit out of the ordinary, this is definitely one to add to your list.