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Mind How You Go

 
Gillian Bain Review by Gillian Bain 4 Published: 12 Aug 2025 ZOO Playground Show Dates: 1 Aug 2025-24 Aug 2025

Like a warm cuddle and a folk gig all in one, Michelle Burke’s Mind How You Go is an utterly charming way to spend an hour. Weaving stories of her childhood in Ireland together with her family’s past, it illustrates how where we come from impacts where we go.

An utterly charming way to spend an hour

The stories of her family’s legacy are scattered with joy as well as sadness. From prison stints to joining nunneries, she presents an intriguing lineage. As she tells each story, she places a representative item onto a wooden ladder which remains centre stage throughout. As the tableau of items builds, it forms almost a shrine to her personal heritage – a beautiful image and a delight to watch slowly build.

Burke has a voice that feels as much a part of her storytelling as her words. Warm, lilting and steeped in character, it carries an easy intimacy that draws you in whether she’s spinning a tale or launching into song. The songs themselves are taken from Burke’s forthcoming album, set for release this autumn. On stage, these tracks feel lived-in. At its strongest moments the melodies feel like they have been passed down through the generations, yet still breathe with the freshness of personal ownership. Songs such as The Crow show real depth of lyricism and will stay with you long after you leave the room. Some of the lighter material, while providing a nice contrast in the theatrical setting, simply do not carry the same sort of musical weight. All the songs, however, connect seamlessly with her spoken material, blurring the lines between concert and storytelling in a way that feels entirely organic.

The overall effect is something quietly magical: a collage of memory, music and meaning. You leave not only with a clearer picture of Burke’s own history, but with a gentle reminder of the threads that bind all of us to those who came before. Without any grandeur or big gimmicks, Mind How You Go is a testament to folk tradition and the strength of simply good craft.

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When Angelus bells meet Murder, She Wrote: singer Michelle Burke presents a rollicking, poignant tale of devotion, featuring moving statues, nuns and American cousins (with beautiful teeth and magazine hair). Directed by Gerda Stevenson, with songs from Burke's album, produced by Duke Special. From her great-grandfather's imprisonment for Irish independence to Uncle Pat's return on the day Neil Armstrong landed on the moon, Mind How You Go delves into the constraints of religion and strength of women, exploring what it means to be Irish in Scotland and the powerful call of home. Featuring pianist James Ross.