Play about hunger striker's three funerals coming to Tullamore
A new play about the three funerals of Frank Stagg, a Republican hunger striker from Mayo who died in a British prison in 1976, will be coming to Tullamore's Esker Arts Centre on Saturday, May 23.
We Have Him Back! is the title of the play, written by Brían MacSuibhne of Belmullet in Mayo, and its Tullamore performance will take place on Saturday, May 23.
The play is described as offering "a historically accurate and deeply moving account of the events surrounding the three funerals of Frank Stagg".
"It tells the story of a mother watching her son die on hunger strike, a grieving wife confronting official falsehoods and a brother whose fierce love and iron resolve would not permit Frank Stagg’s dying wishes to remain unfulfilled," a promotional release for the play stated.
"Most of the action takes place in a graveyard, with occasional cutaway scenes to Frank’s prison cell and to his mother’s kitchen. The characters and events are real. The dialogue is grounded in historical truth.
"Despite the serious nature of the story, some scenes punctuated with bursts of humorous banter, and there are moments of poignancy and deep emotion."
The play was created with the support of Frank Stagg's family, and was informed by the personal experience of Frank's younger brother, George.
"This production tells our brother Frank’s story with honesty, dignity and accuracy," George Stagg said. "It honours not only his sacrifice, but the pain, courage and determination of our family in the face of Frank’s treatment even after his death."
The play features a cast of 12, and a crew of eight. Its author, Brían MacSuibhne, hopes it will be seen by audiences from across the generations, from older people with living memory of the events portrayed to younger people encountering this history for the first time.
"Fifty years ago, the truth was buried in concrete, censorship and lies. This play is about uncovering that truth, about love between brothers, and a family who refused to let their son be erased from history," he said.
Tickets for the 8pm performance of We Have Him Back! on May 23 are available for purchase at Esker Arts Centre in Tullamore. The cost is €20 euro plus a €1.50 booking fee.