A new musical adaptation of the critically- acclaimed show Essence of Ireland is coming to Stevenage.

It’s now a century since the historic 1916 Easter Rising, one of the pivotal events in modern Irish history, and Ireland’s Call arrives at the Gordon Craig Theatre on Wednesday, March 9, as part of a UK tour.

Inspired by true events and spanning three decades, this uplifting musical tells the story of one man’s love for his Irish homeland.

The story follows the extraordinary journey of the strong-headed Sean Dempsey, who at the end of the Second World War leaves behind his childhood sweetheart Cora and his beloved homeland Ireland, in search of a better life in the Big Apple.

Can their love survive the Atlantic divide? Will Sean be able to resist ‘Ireland’s call’ as he embarks on an adventure full of danger, tragedy and lost love? Only fate will tell.

Creative director Ged Graham believes 2016 is the perfect time to launch the show.

He said: “We are really looking forward to bringing the show to stages across the world, starting with some of the UK’s most prestigious venues in 2016, a year set to be a huge celebration of Irish culture to commemorate the centenary of the Easter Rising.”

Ged was born in Dublin and remembers moving to the UK when he was nine.

He said: “Everyone has been separated from loved ones and their homes at some point in their lives, so this is a story that people can really engage with and relate to, myself included.

“The audience is drawn into the story and swept on a journey that is both heartbreaking and heartwarming.”

“It is set against a backdrop of key historical events, including America’s introduction to rock ‘n’ roll, the rebuilding of postwar London and John F Kennedy’s presidential visit to Ireland in 1963.”

Stevenage is home to a large community with Irish heritage, and much of the new town was built by the sweat of those who made the journey to England to find a new life.

The show, written and produced by Ross Mills, Trevor Payne and Ged Graham, includes a mix of original scores and well-known songs such as Galway Girl, Isle of Hope Isle Of Tears, I Loved Her First, Tell Me Ma, and Irish Rover.

A celebration of dreams, enduring love and the resilience of human spirit, Ireland’s Call is a powerful, explosive blend of energy, emotion and music.

For more on the show, visit www.irelandscallthemusical.com.

You can book tickets to the show by calling 01438 363200 or visiting www.gordon-craig.co.uk