Riverdance eyes tour of Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, Japan

Riverdance is in talks to bring its production to Taiwan, New Zealand, Australia and Japan after a planned eight-week tour of China next year. A spokesman confirmed the talks on Thursday as preparations continue for a return of Riverdance touring in Britain later this month after no performances since March 2020 due to Covid-19.

On August 27th, Riverdance will begin a 17-week tour of Britain, with the first dates at Nottingham.

Riverdance co-founder John McColgansaid the company is “delighted” to be back on the road again.

“Everyone has missed the unique experience of performing in front of audiences and all the excitement that comes with the applause and standing ovations.”

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Along with an eight-week tour of China across 14 cities from mid-March to mid-May next year, the US tour will involve 175 performances across 50 cities. Riverdance will also stage a 13-week run at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin from next June to August.

Confirmation of the tour plans and talks comes as new accounts show the company behind the entertainment phenomenon, Abhann Productions Ltd, recorded post-tax losses of €1.4 million in the 12 months to the end of June 2019.

Pause touring

The Riverdance spokesman said the directors decided to pause touring in preparation for the launch of RD25 in January 2020 which celebrated the 25th anniversary of the show worldwide.

“In the same period the costs of reworking the show for the relaunch in 2020 are included in the 2019 accounts,” he said.

Riverdance only performed at the Gaiety in Dublin and the INEC in Killarney, Co Kerry, in 2019 so the number of attendees for the year is small at 84,200.

The accounts show that exceptional costs totalling €627,918 contributed to the 2019 loss. This comprised €520,868 in long-term advances to inter-group companies, loans being written off and a €107,050 loss on the disposal of property.

Numbers directly employed increased from 23 to 35. Directors' pay more than halved from €1.38 million to €559,725.  The accounts show the company owed €731,229 to directors John McColgan and Moya Doherty at the end of June 2019.