Adam Garcia's Emerald Storm. Embassy Theatre, Skegness. 9 October 2026.

Emerald Storm swept into the Skegness Embassy Theatre with an evening of high-octane performance, dazzling footwork and infectious musical energy. Setting out to capture the atmosphere of an Irish pub, the show currently touring the UK brought leading man and West End star, Adam Garcia to Skeg Vegas, accompanied by Tom Ball of Britain's Got Talent, a live three-piece house band and an extremely talented range of Irish dancers and urban tap dancers. Combined, these performers kept the energy flowing for two hours and the packed house loved them for it.

From the moment the house was declared open, the audience was greeted by the Emerald Storm house band, a tight, three piece combo featuring Olivia Ward on vocals and guitar, Kate Reilly on fiddle and Sean Ryan on percussion.. The songs ranged from traditional Irish folk songs to an Irish-inspired cover of Pink Pony Club. They served up a range of songs that warmed up and charmed the audience in equal measure. The audience participation ramped up with The Wild Rover and the band ensured that the crowd's enthusiasm was sustained at that level of warmth as the show began.

The set with its faux bar backdrop, tables and stools provided plenty of platforms upon which the singers and dancers in the show could leap and dance, making way for the entrance of singer Tom Ball who told the audience that the use of video and photographic equipment was absolutely encouraged.

Skegness was fortunate to be one of the venues on the tour that featured Adam Garcia, the romantic lead of the movie Coyote Ugly, as he is only performing selected dates, his undoubted star power brought the crowd out in force. He was greeted by a cat call of "Hi Adam!" from a particularly enthusiastic female in the audience. He smiled and dealt with it in good grace and replied, "I'll just get on with this, okay?" His presence seemed to elevate the show somehow, even when Garcia stepped back in among the other dancers. It is his show, his name is on the poster and as co-creator and co-choreographer, he was more than entitled to hog the limelight a little more than perhaps he chose to. He is a muscular dancer, who really brings power and precision into his dancing and is a master of his art. His rapid fire tap routines looked effortless and he barely broke into a sweat as he danced. I aways think he reminds me of Gene Kelly in the way he chooses to dance so powerfully.

At the heart of the show was a lively fusion of traditional Irish dance and urban tap, with the two styles colliding and complementing one another in a fast, frenetic and thoroughly energetic spectacle. Garcia led the tap contingent with considerable flair, while award-winning Irish dancer and Associate Choreographer, Olivia Graydon brought precision and power to the Irish dancing. Graydon has graced the stage in Lord of the Dance, Riverdance and Feet of Flames among many, many other credits.

Together with a stage full of accomplished dancers, Graydon and Garcia ensured that there was rarely a moment when the eye had nowhere to go. The Embassy stage was filled with movement, rhythm and personality in abundance. Each of the dancers demonstrating mastery of their craft, not merely just the two "star names".

Vocally, Tom Ball provided a strong focal point, billed as The Boss, he seemed to portray the role of the pub's landlord though there was very little in the way of a narrative in the shows - it really is an opportunity for the dancers to perform a series of spectacular dance routines, supported by both recorded backing tracks and the live house band who increasingly interacted with the cast during the show. The live music gave the production a welcome immediacy, helping to drive the dancing forward and adding to the sense of a musical gathering that had gathered a momentum of its own.

One element of the show was introduced for comic relief, that of the work of Mop Boy, an aspiring sad sack of a man who dreams of dancing but is kept in his place by Ball's Booss man role. Clearly, Matt Walker relished playing the role and, predictably, was always going to prove an accomplished hoofer finding his rhythm and the time to shine in Act Two of the show. Walker's Mop Boy won the hearts of the audience and they were more than happy to see him play the fool, as and when the show called for it, but proved a really good foil for Garcia's intricate tap work when the time to shine arose.

The show flows as quickly as a fast-flowing river, moving from one number to the next, some accompanied by the singers and others merely performed to a solid musical accompaniment. Such was the speed and pace of the show that I failed to note many of the titles around which the routines were based. The ensemble routines impressed throughout with slow, sultry dances punctuating the faster more dynamic routines. The two distinct teams of dancers (Irish and tap) merged seemlesly to bring the two syles of dance together effectively under some spectacular lighting bring a real vitality to the Embassy's stage.

When the show eventually concluded, the ensemble delivered a rousing performance of "Shut Up and Dance With Me" that had the audience joining in gleefully and so infectious was the feeing many chose to rise to the challenge of joining the cast on stage to perform in the Tap Jam. Around 20 local dancers, from the very young to the very old, rushed to take up the opportunity to join the cast on stage to dance in front of the audience of over a thousand people on the night. Many audience members clearly knew the drill and came prepared, wearing tap shoes and/or dance outfits with pre-prepared routines. Others decided to "busk it" and flew by the seats of their pants but all were greeted in good humour and cheered on loudly by the audience.

The contrast between the slick show and the rather makeshift ending made for an entertaining finale, with enthusiasm proving every bit as important as technical accomplishment. As the lights rose and the dancers returned to their seats those dancers will have had an experience that will live with them for years to come.

As the house lights rose and the audience departed, the PA system continued to play Irish folk music as everyone left the auditorium, with the stock favourite The Wild Rover making another appearance as the departing crowd continued to sing with smiles on their faces in a good-hearted singalong style...

Emerald Storm may not have been the most culturally nuanced representation of an Irish pub, perhaps more an Irish-themed bar in the USA, but it more than compensated with its energy, accomplished performers and sheer entertainment value. A colourful, spirited evening that brought Irish dance and contemporary tap together with real verve, it left the Embassy Theatre buzzing long after the final steps had been danced.

Andy Evans 10 October 2026