Irish theatre company THISISPOPBABY has announced a UK tour of their hit show WAKE. They are set to perform two runs in April 2025.

WAKE debuted at Dublin Fringe Festival in September 2022, where it was nominated for Best Production, Best Design and the Judges Choice Award. It followed this success with two runs in March of 2024 in the National Stadium. Both runs sold out, and were critically acclaimed.

The company describes the experience of WAKE as a place “where customs collide with club anthems, creating a euphoric soundtrack for a night filled with aerial artistry, Irish tap, cabaret, slam poetry, pole-dancing and more.” The show also features a performance from Felicia Olusanya, who won Best Performance for the same role at Dublin Fringe Festival 2022.

THISISPOPBABY is set to bring the show to the UK for two runs. The first, from April 2 to April 5, is to be performed at London’s West End Peacock Theatre. The second will take place April 17 to April 21, in Aviva Studios Manchester. This will be the first time an Irish company will play in the Manchester venue, which officially opened in October 2023.

Co-director, Philip McMahon, says; “WAKE is a glittering representation of contemporary Ireland. The show was a tears of joy and grief cathartic outpouring for audiences in Dublin, so it’s a thrill to bring all that magic to two of England’s most exciting venues for WAKE’s UK debut.”

“There’s an Irish saying that you have to be invited to a wedding, but anyone can attend a wake. In true Irish hospitality style, we offer a blanket open invitation to revel in our heart thumping, feet stomping WAKE” says co-director Jennifer Jennings.

Tour information can be found here. Click here for our live report of the 2022 run.