The Reviews Are In for The House Must Win!

It’s been a fantastic run here at Pavilion Theatre for The House Must Win. Mick Flannery’s gritty new production was years in the making and is proving to be a massive hit with both audiences and critics alike. After finally coming to life on stage last Friday, all the pieces fell into place. The cast was set, the songs were written, and the tickets were bought. There was just one final question remaining: was the play going to live up to the hype that had grown around it? There is no secret sauce when it comes to entertaining theatre audiences, they just really want to see a good show. Just last Friday, we all waited for the curtain to lift and the mystery to be unveiled, joining our audience in anticipation as The House Must Win finally came to life on stage.

From the moment the cast took to the stage, the feeling of this play was real. It came alive from the moment Tabitha Smyth started singing. Her voice amazed the onlookers; you could feel it in the air and hear it in the applause. This was not hype; this was pure, raw talent. Niall McNamee and Ferdia Walsh-Peelo were so believable and well cast as brothers. It was familiar, it was Irish. The setting was also recognisable: the small town, the different paths people choose in life, and a place we all know, the Irish pub. What was different, however, was how this small world, which usually seems so unremarkable, was suddenly big, bold, beautiful, and musical. It was an instant fan favourite, but you don’t have to take our word for it. The crowds rose to their feet immediately with applause, and the post-show murmurs were filled with people discussing the songs and the scenes. Social media was alight with positive fan feedback lauding the cast, the music, and the singing. And then there was the most telling sign of all: every single ticket is now SOLD OUT. We knew at this point that we had what is possibly one of Ireland's favourite musicals of recent years.

The house most definitely had won, but still, the last reveal was to come: what would the critics think? Keep reading to see what the newspapers had to say:

"A Triumphant Version of That Rare Thing, A New Irish Classic Musical"

The Irish Independent

★★★★ "Nick Cave or Tom Waits-style Americana meets Tom Murphy."

Irish Examiner

"These stray people who might have strolled in from Bruce Springsteen's imagination."

The Irish Independent

"The talent on stage is riveting... Think McDonagh or McPherson but with music. Excellent music."

Sunday Independent

"Utterly heartfelt... exquisitely staged and brilliantly performed."

The Arts Review

★★★★★ "Any holes that could be poked here cannot take away from the fact that this is a fantastic show. Get to it, pronto."

The Reviews Hub

The critics and the crowds have spoken—this is officially one of Ireland's most loved musicals!

The House Must Win runs at Pavilion Theatre, Dún Laoghaire, until Sunday 3 May, before transferring to The Everyman, Cork, from 6 May to 16 May. Currently, tickets for Pavilion Theatre are completely SOLD OUT. For those hoping to catch the Dublin run, a waiting list is available via Pavilion Theatre website.