Their biggest and bravest show to date, in collaboration with the brilliant and prolific musician Donal Scullion and his band. Whilst retaining their usual love for comedy and chaos, this show delves into love, sex, relationships and more costumes from Primark.
Donal asked Leonie and ponydance to make a music video after seeing their work. After the video was made, Leonie scrapped the original plan of making a new four man show, asked Donal to collaborate and Ponies’ Don’t Play Football was born, featuring a cast of 11, including six musicians. The show was first created and presented in 2013 with the support of Arts Council Ireland. They have been successfully collaborating since.
Ponies Don’t Play Football features original music by Donal, plenty of unoriginal music too, bare flesh, athletic choreography, the odd flash of genius, absolutely no football and lots and lots of dancing.
Key Performances
- Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival
- Dublin Dance Festival
- DanceBase Programme at Edinburgh Fringe Festival
- British Dance Edition
What they say...
This, after all, is their real secret: Ponydance look as though they are en pointe in clown shoes. They appear to be mucking about, making it up as they go along, but everything is tightly choreographed, each piece of haphazard spontaneity relentlessly practiced until it appears blithe, easy. Their core strength is their informal relationship with the audience. They look as if they're having fun, so, by extension, the audience has fun. This is what great comedy does and it's impossible to fake. Ponydance are the real deal. John Patrick Higgins, CultureNorthernIreland.com May 2014
Ponies Don’t Like Football straps the audience in for a wild, irreverent roller coaster ride. MC of the Pony Panto, Leonie McDonagh, a mistress of the art of working the audience, struts her stuff, making sure to bring everyone along for the ride. The sheer inventiveness of a ballad delivered by Uncle Social's lead singer, Donal Scullion, ably “supported” by three female dancers, showed traces of pure genius. Routines like the brilliant snowboarding scene, the slow dance segment and a clever interpretation of Kenny Roger’s, Ruby were also excellent. is great fun, a great night out and a timely reminder that when it comes to comedy dance theatre, Pony Dance throw the best dance party in town. Chris O’Rourke, The Examiner, May 2014
Irish pranksters Ponydance don’t play football – but they have other choice and cheesy games up their sleeves. Ummm. There are no sleeves in a bra and briefs. Never mind. Scanty outfits don’t faze the Ponies. Too much clothing would get in the way of dance-tastic routines, and spoil the tongue-in-cheek raunch that adds hilarity to their take on girly floor-shows.The boys in the live band even get in on that act: phwoar! When it comes to comedy, this bunch shoot from the twerking hip and score laughs at every turn. Mary Brennan, Scotland Herald, August 2015
There’s a rare energy to a ponydance show which hits you right between the eyes. The comedy may come thick and fast, but there’s no denying these ponies can dance. Theirs is a highly physical, frankly unclassifiable mix of contemporary dance, commercial jazz dance and “throw yourself around” dance theatre.These ponies may not play football, but they certainly know how to hit the back of the net.Kelly Apter, The Scotsman, August 2015
Having performed two sell-out shows at the MAC last year, ponydance then commenced a whirlwind tour, won some awards, made a TV programme and debuted at the prestigious American Dance Festival. Now they are back!The MAC
