a new Irish musical
by Tom James McGrath
& Amy Clare Tasker

Dublin, 1916: Patrick Pearse is about to lead an armed rebellion against the British Empire, but first he must overcome his deep self-hatred. What will it take to win the freedom he so dearly desires?

With musical influences from Irish folk, contemporary classical and Broadway, RISING provides an intimate portrait of the people behind the event that was the catalyst for Irish independence.

“There’s an Ireland I have dreamed of…”

DEVELOPMENT HISTORY

SIAMSA : AN IRISH VARIETY NIGHT June 2024: we presented a concert reading of the first 30 minutes of the show at the Toulouse Lautrec jazz club in London. Produced by Joe O’Neill and the Irish Creative Collective, and featuring performers Brian Raftery, Brendan Mageean, Connor Mathers, Jackie Pulford, and Emily Woolford.

LISTEN

CREATIVE TEAM

Tom James McGrath (book, music & lyrics) is a composer-lyricist from Tipperary, Ireland. His background is in classical and Irish folk music. He has a master’s degree in contemporary composition from Trinity College, Dublin. His musicals have been performed in the Camden Fringe, London and Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin. Tom works part-time as an NHS doctor. He is a member of the Book, Music & Lyrics workshop. @TomJamesMcGrath

Amy Clare Tasker (book & lyrics) is a theatre maker and musical theatre writer. She works with her own company Pinecone Performance Lab, and with The Cockpit, where she produces the Voila! Europe Theatre Festival and the Theatre Maker artist development programme. Amy has a BA in Drama from the University of California, Irvine. She is a member of the Book, Music & Lyrics workshop, Mercury Musical Developments, and Musical Theatre Network. @AmyClareTasker