Mullingar dancer to perform her own full stage show

Robyn Byrne, a choreographer and dancer from Mullingar, is performing at the first showing of a new dance show, ‘Queen of the Meadows’, this week.

The show, which Robyn created, is at the Backstage Theatre in Longford town on April 17. Robyn’s show is inspired by folk medicine, feminism and cyclic patterns in life and history, and her aim is to invite the audience to trust their intuition and break free from the cycles we place ourselves in.

Robyn said: “The inspiration for Queen of the Meadows came after the passing of my grandmother. I remember growing up around her unconventional ways, putting cobwebs on cut knees, knocking on wood and using mystical cures for ailments. Recalling those memories of her made me want to delve deeper into these folk practices of the past.”

Having worked with some of Ireland’s biggest dance companies and artists, as both a dancer and a choreographer, Robyn now has her own full-stage show as lead artist.

This show is the result of work put in over three years, and across Ireland, Denmark and Germany.

In that time, Robyn has worked with the likes of Emma Martin/United Fall, Junk Ensemble, Irish National Opera, Company Philip Connaughton, Iseli-Chiodi Dance Company, and Red Bear Productions. Commercial credits as a choreographer include Dermot Kennedy, Irish Tatler, Body & Soul, RTÉ, and Laura Jansen (NL).

Robyn also choreographed the Dublin Fringe show ‘Mosh’, which won best ensemble at the Fringe Festival Awards in 2023. An Irish Times review for ‘Mosh’ said ‘the five cast members (who are exceptional) explode onto the stage in a flurry of bodies, potent bursts of energy and passionate releases.’

The show starts at 8pm, and tickets are at backstage.ie.