Emerald Isle tale told in snug setting

Take a visit to an Irish pub without leaving Albany when Damien Leith brings his musical play The Parting Glass to town.

The cabaret-style performance, created by Irish-born Leith, will bring a full Irish band as he tells a tale of his own experiences migrating to Australia.

Adopting the persona of a father, he said people should expect to have a laugh, but it was an emotional tale everyone could relate to.

“The whole idea of the show is to take the audience to an Irish pub and then be entertained by an incredible band and hear the story of an old man talk about his son who has moved to Australia,” he said.

“A big theme is immigration, but the biggest is really the love between a parent and a child as they grow older, move away and end up living the other side of the world.

“It is really that idea of watching your child grow up and start their own life, which is probably something that a lot of people identify with.”

This version of the Parting Glass is new and improved; he toured the original version a few years ago and has since fine-tuned the script and music selection.

Not forgetting about the voice people come to hear, Leith also plays the lead singer of the band.

The band is equipped with authentic Irish sounds — violins, guitars, flutes and tin whistles will give every sensation of a snug Irish pub.

“I kinda made it so that anyone who hasn’t been to Ireland, but they have heard about an Irish session, well, this is the next best thing,” he said.

“Just forget about your day, forget about whatever is going on outside of the show and just feel that you have been transported to Ireland for a while.

“If people can just even get some of that, I reckon it is a big success.”

Leith grew up gigging in Irish pubs before winning Australian Idol in 2006. He said Albany was selected for the regional tour after his 10th anniversary tour was received so well.

“I had a really good show and the audience was lovely and that’s actually why it has come to Albany,” he said.

Tickets to see the Parting Glass at Albany Entertainment Centre on October 21 are available by visiting ticketek.com.