Production

ACROSS THE IRISH SEA was a musical show based on the memories of London’s Irish pensioners that toured Britain and Europe from September to November 1993. It retells the story of the men and women who left their homes in the 30s, 40s and 50s to start a new life in England. The play recreates, in their own words and with the songs they remember, scenes of childhood in rural Ireland and the process of finding work and home in England. It also reflects the contributors’ feelings as emigrants, their continuing relationship with Ireland and their experience of growing old in London. The play was written and directed by Pam Schweitzer, and researched by Pam Schweitzer and Maxine O’Reilly.

To watch a video of the production please follow the video link below. You may also follow the link at the end of the page to download the play-script so you may read along.

Beneath the video link are some pictures of the cast from the second run in 1994, including Janet Bamford, Eamon Maguire, Nell Phoenix and Fraser Hoyle: