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Brian
Brian Gordon Sinclair
Box 337, Alliston, Ontario, Canada L9R
1V6
Tel: 705-435-4814
Fax: 705-435-1755
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Now
available in AUDIO BOOK format for a new listening
adventure. This two CD set contains all three acts
of the premiere stage production while maintaining
the artistic integrity and emotional power of the
original.
 EASTER
RISING presents a day by day account of one of Ireland's
greatest historical events as told, for the first
time, by Patrick Pearse himself. The CD of this
seminal event is suitable for both home and educational
environments. EASTER RISING ranks among the great
dramas of the twentieth century and we are pleased
to make it available to every student of Irish history
and every lover of theatre throughout the world.
A MEMORY OF HEROISM
..........A FUTURE OF PEACE
BACKGROUND: The death of a parent is a seminal event
in each and every life. With the passing of my Irish
born mother came the loving recollection of a strong
woman who raised me in a cold water flat, cleaned
houses for a living, cared for a war wounded husband,
and coped with the frustrations of an all male family.
Inherent in her was the will to survive and an indomitable
fighting spirit, a spirit that is common to the
Irish people. At this time, a desire to know more
about this spirit and to explore my roots was kindled.
This desire became enflamed by the discovery of
an incredible historical event...the Irish revolution
of 1916. The events of the Rising combined to form
one of the great dramas of the 20th century. Amazingly,
no one, until now, had ever written a play detailing
this adventure, much less presenting it from the
viewpoint of Patrick H. Pearse.....poet, lawyer,
visionary, educationalist, and rebel.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The 1916 Irish Easter uprising
was the first successful revolution in 20th centuryEurope.
A courageous band of revolutionaries, though scorned
by most of their
fellow Irishmen, were convinced that through their
defeat and deaths they would arouse the Irish people
to a victorious fight for independence. Incredibly,
they were right, and out of the Easter Rising came
a resurgence of the Irish nationalism which led
ultimately to Irish Independence......the Irish
Free State in 1922 and the Republic of Ireland in
1948.
RESEARCH: Six weeks in Ireland allowed me to walk
in the literal footsteps of the heroes of 1916 and
to come into contact with the most helpful group
of people I have ever encountered......Pat Cooke
and Turlough Breathnach at the Pearse Museum, Niamh
O'Sullivan at the Kilmainham Jail Museum, and Michael
Kenny at the National Museum of Ireland. Costume
sketches were prepared by artist/historian F. Glenn
Thompson and a multitude of original documents and
books were assembled. This material was digested
and revised over a period of 18 months resulting
in a final script, ready for rehearsal in preparation
for the Easter anniversary of the Rising.
REHEARSAL PROCESS: As each scene was methodically
workshopped with moment to moment precision, Mary
Logan and her team of Stratford Festival costumers
created a precise replica of the Thompson drawing
using materials and weaponry purchased in Canada,
England, and Ireland. At the same time, Stratford
sound engineer, Paul Benedict created a superb
soundtrack that included poetry by both P.H. Pearse
and W.B. Yeats as well as a wide selection of authentic
Irish rebel music.
simultaneously, over 150 period photos and documents,
many provided by RTE, were turned into slides. Projectors,
dissolve units, special lens for rear projection,
portable mylar screens, and a full CD sound system
was purchased. One week prior to the April 24 anniversary
of the Rising, all elements were in place. All that
remained was a series of successful dress rehearsals
prior to the moment when EASTER RISING met its first
audience.
THE PERFORMANCE: EASTER RISING is a one actor show
presented by a Guthrie Award winning actor at the
peak of his powers. As the play reached into the
hearts and souls of its audience, people actually
relived this exciting moment of Irish History. When
the performance was over, audience members felt
and understood the true purpose of the play......to
appreciate the heroism but to be horrified at the
bloodshed of war and to join in the author's intention
of moving towards a future of peace. The sound engineer
for Easter Rising was Paul Benedict.
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