Inside the GPO by Colin Murphy

Photo by Dan O'Neill

Inside the GPO
By Colin Murphy

Fishamble's Inside the GPO by Colin Murphy was a must-see cultural event at the heart of the 1916 commemorations. This unprecedented documentary drama, directed by Jim Culleton, was a once-in-a-century opportunity to experience the Easter Rising, in the main hall of the GPO itself.

Audiences witnessed the rebel leadership navigate the perils of the Rising across the five days during which they occupied the GPO.

On Monday, they seized and secured the building, repelling the first attacks.
On Tuesday, they attempted to deal with looting on O'Connell St.
On Wednesday, the shelling started.
On Thursday, the building caught fire.
On Friday, they were forced to evacuate.

The filming took place in April 2016 in the GPO, Dublin. This year, we are delighted to present a specially remastered version to share with audiences around the world from 1 – 5 April 2021 to celebrate the 105th anniversary of the Rising. With support from Culture Ireland, Fishamble is working with a network of theatre organisations, Irish Heritage & Cultural centres, and Irish Studies courses internationally, including the New York Irish Center, Solas Nua, Corrib Theatre, AEDEI and IASIL.

Inside the GPO was originally produced in partnership with Fáilte Ireland, Dublin City Council, Ireland 2016, An Post, DublinTown, & Arnotts. This online presentation is supported by Culture Ireland.

2021 Performances

1 - 5 April

STREAMED ONLINE

Read the show programme

Created By

Writer Colin Murphy
Director Jim Culleton
Dramaturg Gavin Kostick
Scenic & Costume Design Niamh Lunny
Lighting Design Mark Galione
Sound Design Carl Kennedy
Stage Manager Tara Doolan
Assistant Stage Manager Caoimhe Whelan
Movement Director Bryan Burroughs
Hair and Makeup Val Sherlock

Graphic Design by Publicis Dublin
Production Managed by Mark Galione and Eoin Kilkenny
Front of House Manager Ronan Carey
Line Producer Aisling O’Brien
Associate Producer Pauric Dempsey and Colin Murphy
Produced by Eva Scanlan
Filmed and edited by White Thorn Films

Cast

Karen Ardiff, Orla Fitzgerald, Louis Deslis, Martha Dunlea, Carolyn Donnelly, Tom Duffy, Desmond Eastwood, Liz FitzGibbon, Gavin Fullam, Manus Halligan, Ali Hardiman, Aidan Kelly, Ronan Leahy, Daniel McDermott, Michael Glenn Murphy, Meg O’Brien, Gavan O’Connor Duffy, and Don Wycherley.

Reviews

'Wonderful production' President Michael D Higgins

'Vigorous... affecting... persuasive drama' The Stage

'Superb play... direction is breathtaking... utterly memorable... not to be missed' Sunday Independent

'Vigorous production' ★★★★ The Irish Times

Gallery

Photos by Pat Redmond

Meet the Team

Colin Murphy
Writer

Colin Murphy has written for stage, television, film and radio, and has been nominated for an Irish Theatre Award, an Irish Film and Television Academy award and a Celtic Media Award; his radio documentaries have received a Prix Marulic silver award and a New York Festivals bronze award. Two of his plays are published by Bloomsbury. With Fishamble Theatre Company, he has written a series of political documentary dramas, two of which, Guaranteed! and Haughey/Gregory, are published by Bloomsbury. Guaranteed! was acclaimed as “a national event” by the Irish Times; it and its sequel, Bailed Out!, “injected a new and vital ingredient into the Irish theatre landscape”, wrote the Irish Independent. His Easter Rising play, Inside the GPO, was described as “deeply moving and utterly memorable… deserves to be remembered as pivotal” by the Sunday Independent. He writes a weekly column for the Sunday Business Post.

Jim Culleton
Director

Jim Culleton is the artistic director of Fishamble: The New Play Company, for which he has directed productions on tour throughout Ireland, UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US. His productions for Fishamble have won many Irish and international awards, including Olivier, The Stage, Scotsman Fringe First, and Irish Times Best Director awards.

Jim has also directed for Audible, the Abbey, the Gaiety, the Belgrade, 7:84 Scotland, Project, Amharclann de hÍde, Tinderbox, The Passion Machine, the Ark, Second Age, Dundee Rep, Draíocht, CoisCéim/Crash Ensemble/GIAF, RTÉ Radio 1, Frontline Defenders, Amnesty International, Little Museum of Dublin, Fighting Words, RTÉ lyric fm, Soho Theatre, Scripts Festival, Vessel and APA (Australia), TNL (Canada), Solas Nua and Kennedy Center (Washington DC), Odyssey (LA), Origin, Irish Arts Center and 59E59 (Off-Broadway), as well as for Trafalgar Theatre Productions on the West End, and IAC/Symphony Space on Broadway. Jim has taught for NYU, NUI, GSA, Uversity, the Lir, Villanova, Notre Dame, UM, UMD, and TCD.