Ireland rises show to mark 1916 centenary

2016 will see the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising one of Ireland’s most poignant points in history. To commemorate Plimsoll Line Entertainment has created a show ‘Ireland Rises’ which celebrates the Dublin people of that time. The audience will experience a production never seen before this summer 2015. With a cast of just 13, 'Ireland Rises’ is full of well known Irish classic songs along with a number of original songs composed by brothers Billy and Stephen Kilkenny.

Set in a public house on Sackville Street Dublin during the Rising, the audience will watch as the patrons and staff find themselves caught in the cross fire, where the six days of the rising is condensed in to one night, scared and trapped in the public house each character finds refuge by telling their individual stories through music, song and dance. Songs includes newly composed material – Ireland Rises and much loved Irish classics including the Auld Triangle. Dancing includes a step back in time - seanos dancing and brand new choreographed Irish dancing is performed throughout. The main characters of ‘Ireland Rises’ find out along with the audience how the rising unfolded.

Billy Kilkenny, Plimsoll Line Entertainment who wrote, produced, directed and stars in ‘Ireland Rises’ has spent most of his professional career performing Irish music abroad and feels ‘Ireland Rises’ will give tourists and Irish alike a different view on the 1916 Rising from what has been read in history books. During the rising, life still went on for the locals living and drinking in Dublin and ‘Ireland Rises’ tries to show how Dubliners laughed, cried and felt real fear as they heard the gun shots and witnessed the change in Dublin during those days of the rising. Kilkenny said of the show, “'Ireland Rises’ will set up residency in the Tivoli Theatre this summer with eight shows a week. We wanted to show audiences from home and abroad what an important part of our history the Easter Rising was to our nation. Ireland’s traditional music and dance is loved the world over so what better way to tell the story – we know it will be a night everyone will enjoy.”

Included in the cast is John Mulligan, the great grand son and great grand nephew of Matthew and Jack Maguire the Irish rebels who marched from Maynooth to the GPO to be greeted by Padraig Pearse and James Connolly. Mulligan said of taking part in ‘Ireland Rises’, 'to perform in this 1916 production nearly 100 years after my great grand father and my great grand uncle who fought for Irish freedom feels incredible, I'm honoured and so excited to be a part of it”.

‘Ireland Rises’ is sponsored by New Ireland Assurance which was founded around the time of the Easter Rising and will run from 14th June to 31st August with matinee and evening shows at weekends (Previews 14th - 21st June). Tickets are €24.50. There are pre theatre dinner and ticket packages available from €49.50. Tickets on sale now at www.tivoli.ie and irelandrises.com or call the box office on (01)4544472.