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★★★★★ Celtic Tales is one of those Fringe shows that doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel — it just sits you down, plays you good music, tells you a few stories, and lets you enjoy yourself. And honestly, there’s something refreshing about that.
Elsa and Gary have a lovely, easy chemistry on stage. The husband‑and‑wife banter is funny without ever tipping into performance shtick; it’s just them, teasing each other the way couples do, and the audience laps it up. It breaks up the music and the folklore nicely, giving the whole thing a relaxed, fireside feel.
The music is the backbone of the show. Elsa’s fiddle work is bright and confident, and when she starts layering sounds with the loop pedal, the room warms up immediately. Gary’s accompaniment keeps everything grounded. Even if you walked in knowing nothing about Celtic myths, you’d still enjoy the tunes.
The stories themselves are a mixed bag in the best way — some eerie, some gentle, all delivered with a light touch. I especially liked the tale of the Blue Men of the Minch, those storm‑calling sea spirits who challenge ship captains with riddles. It’s a cracking bit of folklore, and the riddle element gives it a playful tension that Elsa leans into. You can feel the room lean forward, waiting to hear whether the captain gets it right.
Then there’s the Ghillie Dhu, the shy little forest elf who guides a lost child home. It’s a softer story, almost tender, and it balances the darker sea‑myth nicely. Kids would love this one — it’s got that storybook quality that sticks.
And that’s worth saying plainly: this is a genuinely good show for children. The myths are vivid, the music lively, and the humour gentle. Nothing drags, nothing gets too heavy, and at around 45 minutes it’s exactly the right length for younger attention spans.
Not everything lands perfectly. The background graphics could do with a bit of work — they’re functional, but they don’t match the richness of the music or the atmosphere of the stories. A more imaginative visual design would lift the whole thing. The scripting, too, could be tighter. A few transitions feel a little loose.
Celtic Tales is warm, friendly, and full of heart. It’s the kind of Fringe show you can take the whole family to without worrying about content or pacing. You get good music, a handful of myths, a bit of laughter, and a couple on stage who clearly enjoy performing together. Sometimes that’s all you need.
Reviewed by Pat Harrington
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