Meet The Team

The Creatives

Bill Whelan

Composer

Bill Whelan has composed music for theatre, film and orchestra. His 1997 Grammy Award winning music Riverdance continues to be performed around the world. To coincide with the 25th anniversary tour, Bill completed a new studio recording of the music from Riverdance, released by Decca/Universal Records, featuring many of the young musicians who play the music live with the show. He also recently finished recording a new score for the animated feature film, Riverdance: The Animated Adventure. His orchestral works include: The Seville Suite, Spirit Of Mayo, The Connemara Suite and Linen & Lace. His musical settings of the literary works of Irish writers include the poetry of WB Yeats, Paul Muldoon, Derek Mahon, Tom McIntyre, Frank McGuinness and Paul Durcan. His music for film includes scores for “Dancing At Lughansa” starring Meryl Streep, “Some Mother’s Son” featuring Helen Mirren and “Lamb” with Liam Neeson. As a producer in the studio he has worked with U2, Van Morrison, Kate Bush, Richard Harris, The Dubliners, Planxty, Andy Irvine, Davy Spillane and Bulgarian/Irish band, East Wind. Bill is a Fellow of the Royal College of Music and holds two honorary doctorates. He is an Honorary Freeman of the City of Limerick, where he was born.

Moya Doherty

Producer

Moya Doherty’s career spans the creative industries, theatre, radio and television production and presentation, both in Ireland and internationally.
Moya developed the original concept for Riverdance and her work as an Executive Producer includes a number of charity Telethons and the televising of the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics held in Ireland in 2003. She was also a producer on Riverdance: The Animated Adventure premiering on Sky and Netflix.
Moya’s work with national and international arts organisations saw her given honorary degree recognition from Ulster University , University College Dublin and the National University of Ireland while her business acumen was recognised by the award of the Veuve Clicquot Business Woman of the Year and the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
Moya has from 2014 been Chair of the RTÉ Public Service Media Board.

John McColgan

Director

John McColgan is a multi-award-winning producer and director. He was Head of Entertainment (RTÉ Television), Head of Weekend Entertainment (ITV/TVAM) and was awarded a Jacob’s Television Award (1980). He played a key role in the evolution of Riverdance from the original seven-minute dance number to the full stage show. He is founding director of Tyrone Productions whose productions include: Quirke (BBC) Beckett on Film (C4), The Hunger (RTE/ARTE) David Brophy’s Choir Series (RTE) Born to Riverdance (BBC). John served as Chairman of the Abbey Theatre Centenary Committee and directed a critically acclaimed production of Dion Boucicault’s melodrama The Shaughraun. He produced a major theatrical event marking the State visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Ireland (2011). John is the director of Heartbeat Home which premiered in Dublin (2013), toured in North America and China and played a six- week run in London’s West End (2019). He holds an Honorary Doctorate of Law from the National University of Ireland. John is an accomplished photographer and is an Ambassador for Trócaire, one of Ireland’s largest development agencies. His recent work includes the documentary “This is Palestine” and a book of his photography “Looking at the Same Moon”.

Creative Team

Padraic Moyles

Executive Producer/Associate Director

Born in Dublin, Padraic emigrated to New York when he was nine years old. At the age of twelve he starred as the principal actor in the Off-Broadway production of Grandchild of Kings, directed by Harold Prince. Dancing under the tutelage of Donny Golden, he joined Riverdance in 1997, going on to become Dance Captain and Principal Dancer. He was nominated for an Ovation Award for his leading role in the show. In 2006 he joined the Broadway production of The Pirate Queen as Dance Captain before returning to Riverdance in 2008. He has had the privilege to perform for a number of heads of state and notable individuals from around the world, including Michelle Obama and Queen Elizabeth II. Padraic is also proud to be the Executive Producer/ Director for the international show Heartbeat of Home which has toured China, North America and played for a six-week run in London’s West End. He was Dance Director and a choreographer on Riverdance: The Animated Adventure. Padraic would like to give special thanks to his wife Niamh and children Juliette-May and Harrison Rhys, his father, brothers and sister for their continued support. He dedicates all his work to his late mother Christine Moyles.

Joan Bergin

Costume Designer

Joan is one of Ireland’s best-known film costume designers. Film credits include My Left Foot, In the Name of the Father and Dancing at Lughnasa. She began her career in Theatre and Architectural Design, winning awards in both areas. She designed Brian Friel’s Translations on Broadway, and returned to New York’s Lincoln Center in 1999 for their Friel season.

More recently her work was seen on television in David Copperfield and on film in Veronica Guerin, directed by Joel Schumacher. Recent projects include The Prestige, shot in LA, and The Tudors, for which she has won three Emmys. She has also won two IFTAs for The Tudors.

Her most recent theatre work includes two Sam Shepard plays commissioned by the Abbey Theatre, Kicking a Dead Horse and Ages of the Moon directed by the actor/playwright, and Henrik Ibsen’s John Gabriel Borkman starring Alan Rickman and at the Abbey. Joan is currently involved in a new adaptation of The Dead.

Michael O'Gorman

Sound Designer

Michael was born in London and completed his education at Trinity College, Dublin. On returning to England he founded his own sound company with Don McLean as his first client.

He was next approached by The Chieftains management to provide sound for their British tour. This relationship formed the basis for the development of his interest in sound design.

He has provided sound design for diverse artistic requirements, including Bill Whelan’s The Seville Suite and The Spirit of Mayo, Eurovision ’93, ’94, ’95, The Shaughraun (The Abbey), The Wiremen, Aïda, Handel’s Messiah (250th anniversary at The Point), Sweeney Todd (The Gate), Mother Goose, Beauty and The Beast< Cinderella Aladdin, Robinson Crusoe and The Caribbean Pirates (The Gaiety) and The Lords of Love (Wexford Opera House).

For High Res

For the 25th Anniversary production, renowned Irish lighting and video design creatives, High Res, were commissioned to produce and deliver an innovative and integrated set, lighting, and motion graphics design. The High Res team brings a wealth of creative experience, enhancing the visual onstage story telling though the use of technology and expert design.

PETER CANNING

Lead Designer for High Res

A graduate of Ravensbourne University London, Peter Canning is Head Designer and Technical
Creative Director at High Res Lighting, Dublin. He was part of the team for the London Olympic Games, and Associate Lighting Designer for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Sochi Winter Games; this team won an Emmy for ‘Outstanding Lighting Design for a Variety Special’. His work includes the GAA 125 Celebrations and Skyfest for the St. Patrick’s Festival. TV credits include Dancing With the Stars, The Voice of Ireland, Blind Date, Deal or No Deal, RTÉ’s show Centenary and the televised Croke Park leg of Pope Francis’ visit to Ireland. Co-founder of WHATSIT and as a pioneer of projection mapping and architectural lighting in Ireland, he has lit some of Ireland’s most iconic buildings and spectacular festivals.

ALAN FARQUHARSON

Set Designer

Alan Farquharson studied at NCAD in Dublin and subsequently joined RTÉ, Ireland’s national television service . His work there ranged from drama to features and many of the station’s prime entertainment shows, notably the Eurovision Song Contest in both 1993 and 1995. During this time he also regularly worked in theatre and since leaving RTÉ his theatre work has continued with a host of acclaimed productions on the Irish stage and abroad, in particular for the Abbey Theatre and Rough Magic. He has been production designer on several Irish feature films and numerous television productions including the Nobel Peace Prize Concert, The Ryder Cup Opening Ceremony and The World Festival Of Families. He lectures part-time on the BA (Hons) Design for Stage and Screen course at Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT) in Dublin.

ANDREW VOLLER

Lighting Designer

Andrew’s Lighting Design credits include: I am from Austria (Vienna); Jesus Christ Superstar concert (Vienna); Jason and the Argonauts (London); Messiah Rocks (Vienna); Evita (Vienna), SHREK The Musical (German & International Tour); We are Musical Gala (Vienna); Into The Woods, Rent (Guildford School of Acting); SHREK Das Musical (German Tour); Moeder Ik Wil Bij De Revue (Utrecht); Love Never Dies concert (Vienna); Lift (Soho Theatre); Das Phantom der Oper concert (Vienna); Saturday Night Fever (Netherlands Tour, Milan); Kein Pardon (Dusseldorf); Hinterm Horizont (Berlin, Hamburg); All Shook Up–Love Me Tender (Netherlands Tour); Buddy (Essen); Ich will Spass (Essen); Ich war noch niemals in New York (Hamburg, Stuttgart, Vienna, Zurich, Oberhausen, German Tour); Miami Nights (German Tour); Hans Klok’s 'The Beauty of Magic' (Las Vegas) & ‘Faster Than Magic’ (European Tour); Rebecca (Vienna); Rock of Ages, Rockville, Aida, Hair, Carmen Cubana, Jesus Christ Supertsar, Footloose, Wild Party & Tommy (Amstetten); Grease (St Gallen); Parsifal (Finnish National Opera); Romeo & Julia (Vienna); Saturday Night Fever (German Tour); Elisabeth (2003 revival in Vienna & Japan); Hair (Vienna and Bremen). Andrew also works as a lighting programmer on large scale television productions and event. These productions include the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Ceremonies, Sochi 2014 Paralympic Ceremonies, Rio 2016 Olympic Ceremonies and the Eurovision Song Contests, 2001 (Denmark), 2009 (Russia) and 2010 (Norway).

COSMO AV

Motion Graphics

The Cosmo team conceive stage and direct giant video projections for numerous large-scale theatre shows and corporate events. Cosmo specialise image creation and image set design for large format projects worldwide.