MÁM AT THE LOWRY – A UNIQUE AND UNFORGETTABLE NIGHT AT THE THEATRE
- Feb 4
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 11
The Night Out
Lawrence and I headed to The Lowry on Tuesday 3rd February 2026 to see MÁM, and from the moment we arrived it felt like it was going to be a very different kind of theatre night.
As we entered the theatre, we were handed a free little programme, which is always a lovely touch. We then headed over to the press desk to collect our tickets before taking a look at the merch available in the foyer.
For anyone who likes to plan ahead (I definitely do), this is exactly what was on sale on the night:
CD – Tunes in the Church – £13
Book – Title of My People – £17
CD – In To The Loam – £17
CD – Concertina Album A/B – £17
Concertina vinyl – £30
It was a really thoughtful selection and felt very in keeping with the tone and atmosphere of the show.
Seats & View
We were seated in the stalls, Row M, seats 32 and 33. These were side seats, but honestly the view was excellent. We never felt like we were missing anything, and the sightlines were really clear throughout.
The seats themselves were also very comfortable, with plenty of legroom – which is always appreciated, especially as MÁM runs straight through with no interval.
The Show
MÁM runs for 80 minutes with no interval, and it fully pulls you in from the start.
This isn’t a show with a clear, traditional storyline. Instead, it unfolds more like a series of moments and emotions. The dancers feel like a community – coming together, breaking apart, clashing, reconnecting, celebrating and grieving – sometimes gently and sometimes with huge bursts of energy.
Although the piece is rooted in rural Irish life, it never feels literal or obvious. It’s much more about atmosphere, shared history and emotion, and it invites you to interpret what you’re watching in your own way.
A young girl remains present throughout the performance, quietly observing everything that unfolds around her. She becomes a calm, steady presence amid all the movement, and your eye is often drawn back to her as everything else swirls around the stage.
Movement, Music & Atmosphere
Visually, MÁM is quite stripped back, which I really loved. Nothing feels overdesigned, and your attention stays exactly where it should be – on the dancers and the connection between movement and music.
The choreography is intense and physically demanding. The dancers are constantly in motion, moving as a collective one moment and then breaking into smaller groups or individual moments the next. There’s a real sense of stamina and commitment running through the entire piece.
One of the standout elements for me was the live music, especially the concertina, which is played on stage throughout. It never feels like background music. Instead, the music and the dancers feel completely connected, almost as though they’re responding to each other in real time. At times the music feels traditional, at others more modern and unexpected, and it adds so much to the emotional weight of the performance.
After the Curtain Call
There was a free post-show talk and Q&A after the performance, which Lawrence and I would have loved to stay for, but we had to head back home to the kids. If you’re able to stay, it sounded like a really great opportunity to hear more about the piece and the creative process behind it.
It’s also worth noting that MÁM was only at The Lowry for two days, but it is currently on tour, so if it’s coming to a venue near you, it’s definitely one to consider.
Final Thoughts
MÁM is one of those shows that’s quite hard to explain, but incredibly easy to feel. It’s intense, emotional, strange and, at times, very beautiful – and it stays with you long after you leave the theatre.
It’s not like anything else I’ve seen before, and that’s exactly what made it so special.
You can find out more information and book tickets for the show at this Link
Disclosure
Tickets to see MÁM were gifted to me for the purpose of writing a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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