Rising - a new Irish Musical

Rising - a new Irish Musical

From ON BROADWAY by Stuart Brown

April 3, 2026 · 37 min

About this episode

The episode features an interview with the composing team of a new Irish musical, Rising, which explores the 1916 Dublin rebellion through the life of Patrick Pearse.

This week I speak with the composing team of Tom James McGrath and Amy Clare Tasker about their new musical Rising . Songs from the show are incorporated into the episode. Rising reimagines the 1916 Dublin rebellion through the inner life of Patrick Pearse, its most enigmatic leader. As he leads the charge against the British Empire, Patrick must reconcile his public role with the private self he has kept hidden – his queerness, his sensitivity, and his doubts. Fighting alongside him are a community of eccentrics: artists, bookworms, socialists and socialites. Together, they form not just a revolutionary force, but a chosen family.

People in this episode

Host: Stuart Brown

Guests: Tom James McGrath, Amy Clare Tasker

Topics covered

  • Irish musical
  • Dublin rebellion
  • queerness
  • Patrick Pearse
  • community
  • artistic expression

Keywords

  • Irish musical
  • Rising
  • Patrick Pearse
  • Dublin rebellion
  • queerness
  • Tom James McGrath
  • Amy Clare Tasker
  • artistic community
  • sensitivity

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Rising

Places: Dublin, British Empire

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