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'Rachaimis ar thuras le chéile...'
Let's Take a Journey Together...
Into the Circle Theatre's
Sacred Intention
Into the Circle Theatre is devoted to reverently honouring the tradition of the Irish seanchaí.
Through the weaving of Irish culture, folklore, and mythology, Erica shares hallowed tales of remembering the wisdom of the body, the magic of the human spirit, and the sacred relationship between the physical and otherworldly realms.
Many of these tales arise from an Irish diasporic experience, carrying the grief of separation and the longing to belong — to land, to language, and to a sense home.
Rooted in the healing power of storytelling, Into the Circle Theatre kindles community gatherings, where story becomes a sacred journey back to the essence of who we are — body, heart, and soul.
In the Works
Ó thír mo Mháithreacha: Of the Land of My Mothers
Premiering in Early 2027
In memoriam of An Gorta Mór
(The Great Hunger)
"When you feel lost, place your trust
in the Mothers;
Claim her name in Her ancient tongue;
Reach your arms towards Her heavens and stars;
Rest your head upon Her breast;
Feel your feet upon Her earth;
And know that you are home."
Ó thír mo Mháithreacha: Of the Land of My Mothers tends to the shorelines of history and folklore, following the currents between early Bytown (present-day Ottawa) in 1847 and the contemporary Irish-Canadian diasporic experience.
Woven through personal reflections, historically inspired narratives, and Irish selkie folklore, this immersive piece traces the emotional and cultural tides of Irish emigration, inviting audiences into an intimate encounter with diasporic grief, the longing to belong, and intergenerational echoes of the Great Hunger in Canada.
Journey inward through poetic storytelling and song, shared in both English and Gaeilge, while considering: how does one find a sense of home while living upon lands not of one’s blood and bone?
To know who you are and where you are going;
it helps to know where you come from.
Follow the creative process
of this sacred story at
Into the Circle on Substack
Recent Tellings
The Coldest Day in May | S1 Ep9
As Bealtaine fires are lit and her flowers burst into bloom, a story stirs of the coldest day in May, where the wintry presence of an Cailleach once lingered at summer’s threshold.
Walk alongside one man seeking the story from the land herself, as he receives wise counsel from unexpected messengers.
A mythic Irish tale of Bealtaine that speaks to the hidden voices of nature, while posing the question: if you dare to ask it, can you be still enough to hear the response?
Whispers of Sheela-na-Gig at the Hill of Kings | S1 Ep8
What if the Sheela-na-Gig at the Hill of Tara could speak?
Would she be happy with the tales we’ve told?
In this episode, journey to the mythical landscape of Ireland’s Hill of Tara, exploring the intertwined stories of goddess, queen, and the land itself. Through legend, history, and reflection, we consider the many faces of feminine sovereignty — and how the stories we tell today shape our understanding of the past.
All beneath the steady gaze of the Great Mother at the Gate.
Brigid and the Stars | S1 Ep7
A falling star. A midnight meadow. And a grandmother who knows more than she lets on.
Journey with a young girl named Brigid as she discovers the ancient wisdom of the women before her — celestial secrets, sacred waters, and the night myth steps out of story and into her life.
Step into the misty heart of Ireland, where the land whispers, rivers carry the names of goddesses, and magic lives in the spirits of those who walk her fields.
Previous Shows
Into the Circle Theatre's
Inaugural Show
Premiered at the 2023 Ottawa Fringe Festival
Stars, Stones, and Shadows
A Heroine's Tale
Mysticism. Magic. And lore. Traverse into the shadows of our heroine's journey, into the Otherworld, sacredly held by some of Ireland's most ancient and prolific goddesses.
With the sturdy guidance and powerful presence of Macha, the Morrígan, and Brigid, our heroine goes within, as she remembers:
The wisdom of her body.
The power of her voice.
And the magic of her spirit.
[Show Art by: Devyn Sharpe, Sharpe Illusions Tattoo]
" ... spellbinding ..."
- Apartment 613 (Barb Popel)
Erica O'Reilly
Irish-Canadian Storyteller, Writer, Producer,
Into the Circle Theatre's - Creative Visionary
As a sacred storyteller, spiritual counsellor, and ordained minister, Erica’s dán [soul work] is deeply woven within sacred embrace and traditions of the Irish Mná Feasa (the Wise Women), the Mná Leighas (the Medicine Women), and the Mná Chaointe (the Keening Women), and the Áes Dána (People of the Arts).
As the Creative Visionary of Into the Circle Theatre, Erica weaves Irish culture, folklore, and mythology into contemporary storytelling that honours feminine wisdom and ancestral memory.