NEWS & REVIEWS
BBC Radio Ulster (Saturday Magazine Show February 2009) “Musical Theatre is worth billions worldwide.” “1916 The Musical is a workable, saleable idea and can definitely work.” “There is a market for an Irish Les Miserable, and you would get a lot of people going along; if you can get the emotion across on stage, then you’re onto a winner.” Quentin Letts West End Theatre Critic, Daily Mail “1916 The Musical is a very good idea; I’m surprised nobody has thought of doing this before.” “I would like to see a prime time National TV Talent Show.” “Actually, I’m there! I’m sharpening my pencil already!” Fiona Looney Top Irish Playwright and Journalist “If they can make a success out of a musical called ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ why couldn’t they do the same with this?” “I do detect a willingness on the part of the English public to learn more about Irish history, which was orchestrated by their Government. Generally I welcome the Arts recognising the importance of 1916 or the Hunger Strikes or the H-Block protest. Of course, there is a requirement that these things will be handled sensitively and wouldn’t be mocked in some way; I will hold my fire until I see the show.”
Irish Historian Dr Eamon Phoenix said he thought that “considering the strong musical tradition that already surrounds The Rising, the idea might actually work well. The Rising is the foundation of the modern Irish state; it was the key insurrection which led to the Irish revolution of 1916-1922 and the establishment of an independent 26-county state.”
The Irish Tribune, 15 Feb 2009
Tim Pat Coogan, Author of the definitive book on The Easter Rising
“It will always be revered by Irish Republicans as year one of Irish independence and like most key events in Irish history, it does have a musical score of its own already. One of the best known ballads written about The Rising is ‘The Foggy Dew’, written by a County Down priest, Charles O’Neill and the musical score to ‘Mise Eire’, written by Séan Ó Riada, in the 1960’s.”
“It is very personal, haunting music.”
Dr Phoenix - Irish News, 10 Feb 2009
Meanwhile, Belfast playwright, Martin Lynch, whose comic play, ‘The Chronicles of Long Kesh’, recently played at the Waterfront Hall, said he thought any subject matter was “fair game.”
“If you can do something called ‘The History of the Troubles According to My Da’ and make people laugh at what we went through for 30 years, then the Easter Rising is certainly up for grabs. I think it is a good idea but you have to make sure you take the right angle for humour.”
Martin Lynch - Belfast playwright