1916 Commemoration Season to Savour at Birr Theatre & Arts Centre

Birr Theatre & Arts Centre will host a very special 1916 Commemoration Season starting next month.

Sister of the Rising, written by Offaly playwright and actor Christiane O’Mahony, will kick off proceedings on Saturday 16 April.  The play is a funny and poignant story and a testament to the many forgotten women who fought for Irish Independence.

Birr Stage Guild will then present Sowing The Wind from April 21-23. The production will give a flavour of life in Birr in the early years of the 20th century. Told through poetry, song and dramatic dialogue, it deals with the Gaelic cultural revival, the impact of WW1, the Irish Volunteers and Easter week and its aftermath.

Next up on Friday 29 April is the premiere of the landmark documentary, Faithful Rising. Presented by Tullamore-born historian Dr Paul Rouse, it tells the story of two Offaly men who took part in the 1916 Rising, Peadar Bracken from Tullamore and Éamonn Bulfin from Birr.

On 19 May, it’s The Big Fellow, a new play telling the compelling story of Michael Collins and his rise from unknown volunteer in the GPO to his untimely death. Much more than a straightforward dramatization, it also tells the story of his biographer, Frank O’Connor who fought against Collins.

Or why not attend Voices Rising, an evening of contemporary poetry and storytelling on Saturday 28 May? Notorious troubadour Fergus Costello, champion spoken-word poet Cormac Lally and activist-rapper Temper-Mental MissElayneous and more are set to share the stage. Funds raised on the night will go towards the Cloughjordan Community Amphitheatre project.

For more information and to book: www.birrtheatre.com Box Office (057) 91 22911