Michael Keegan-Dolan’s Fabulous Beast dance theatre company and Liam Ó Maonlaí will bring their show Rian to Sadler’s Wells in London on 24 and 25 October, fresh from a glowingly received run at the Gaiety Theatre as part of the Dublin Theatre Festival.

Fabulous Beast board member Manchán Magan describes the show as being ‘closer to ritual or sacrament than traditional theatre’. Based on Ó Maonlaí’s 2005 tribute of the same name to Seán Ó Riada, Rian features a series of tracks, including two composed by Ó Riada, a selection from Ó Maonlaí’s album, a number of traditional airs and two traditional Malian pieces, which are performed by five musicians (including Ó Maonlaí) as accompaniment to an international company of eight dancers. That company is comprised of dancers from India, America, Japan, Europe and Africa.

The international flavour of the ensemble is reflected in the music, which adds to its Irish traditional foundation touches of African and American techniques and colours.

Rian is ultimately described as ‘a celebration of Irish roots and traditions viewed from the perspective of a society still reeling from the effects of the economic crisis’, and as tapping ‘into Irish tradition with influences from across the globe’.

Rian is supported by Culture Ireland.

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