Easter Rising
Archive film of GPO drama released
Inside the GPO by Fishamble was originally staged as part of the centenary events surrounding Ireland’s Easter Rising of 1916.
Playwright Colin Murphy reconstructs – and creates a drama around – events in Dublin’s General Post Office which was occupied by the Irish rebels who led the rising against British rule and made it their headquarters.
Don Wycherley, Aidan Kelly and Orla Fitzgerald in Fishamble’s Inside the GPO. Pic: Pat Redmond
The play, performed in the main hall of the GPO itself, allowed audiences to witness the rebel leadership navigate the perils of the rising across the five days during which they occupied the GPO.
This unprecedented documentary drama, directed by Jim Culleton, was a once-in-a-century opportunity to experience the Easter Rising, in the rebuilt hall of where the events originally took place.
On Monday, they seized and secured the building, repelling the first attacks.
On Tuesday, they attempted to deal with looting on O’Connell St.
On Wednesday, the shelling started.
On Thursday, the building caught fire.
On Friday, they were forced to evacuate.
Dublin theatre critic Chris McCormack reviewed the live production for The Stage, noting that “the dearth of information about what happened inside the GPO during Easter week 1916 doesn’t hinder playwright Colin Murphy, who uses the gaps in the record to pen a wartime drama.”
James Connolly
McCormack says that Edinburgh-born socialist James Connolly is given “an upstanding performance” (complete with a Scottish accent) by Aidan Kelly and that “Michael Glenn Murphy is ferocious as the Fenian Tom Clarke”. Ronan Leahy “cuts a guileless figure” as Padraig Pearse, the poet under pressure.
Now the play’s producers, Fishamble – Ireland’s ‘new play company’ – is live-streaming an archive film of the production on Easter Sunday from 7pm. It will be available until 10pm on Monday 13 April.
Inside the GPO on YouTube (Running time: 1 hour and 35 minutes)
Sunday 12 April 2020
Streeming from 7pm.
Online until Monday 13 April 2020, 10pm.
Visit: www.fishamble.com/inside-the-gpo.html
ENDS
