Having received its world premiere at Kilmainham Gaol for the anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising, Signatories returns to the stage in October at The Olympia Theatre Dublin. Originally commissioned by UCD, this stunning list of writers, Emma Donoghue, Thomas Kilroy, Hugo Hamilton, Frank McGuinness, Rachel Fehily, Éilís Ní Dhuibne, Marina Carr and Joseph O’Connor present the seven signatories of the Irish Proclamation, along with the interesting perspective of Nurse Elizabeth O’Farrell, who delivered the surrender in the Easter Rising of 1916.
This exciting production, noted for its magnificent writing, is directed by Tony Award-winning director, Patrick Mason, and will be delivered by some of the country’s most outstanding actors; Barbara Brennan plays Nurse Elizabeth O’Farrell by Emma Donoghue; Frank McCusker plays Padraig Pearse by Thomas Kilroy; Karen McCartney reads James Connolly written by Hugo Hamilton; Roseanna Purcell who reads Seán MacDiarmada written by Éilís Ní Dhuibne; Stephen Jones plays Thomas MacDonagh by Marina Carr; Shane O’Reilly plays Joseph Mary Plunkett by Joseph O’Connor; Joe Taylor plays Thomas Clarke written by Rachel Fehily and Ronan Leahy plays Éamonn Ceannt by Frank McGuinness – all relay the voices that thread across deeply personal emotions from each historical Irish character.
UCD played a central role in the emergence of the Irish State – from the culturally-driven Gaelic Revival movement to the formation of the Irish Volunteers and Cumann na mBan; from the actual planning of the Easter Rising to the formation of the first Government; UCD lecturers, graduates and even students were all part of the story of Irish independence.
Tickets can be purchased:
Axis Arts Centre, Ballymun
Friday 30 September & Saturday 1 October | 8pm | €16
Box Office – Tel: 01 883 2100 | www.axisballymun.ie
Complimentary car parking available
Olympia Theatre, Dublin
Low price Preview Tuesday 4 October | 8.00pm | €28.50
Wednesday 5 – Friday 14 October | 8.00pm €38.50/€33 (booking charges apply)
Box Office – Tel: 0818 719 300 – ROI / 0870 243 4455 – N. I. / +353 1 4858010 – Int’l Customers / www.ticketmaster.ie
Watch a trailer of Signatories on YouTube: https://youtu.be/b86LazIECHM
Find out more about Signatories on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Signatories1916/
