Imagine a history lesson on the 1798 Irish Rebellion, taught by Fr Ted, enacted by the Goon Show, pretending they are on the set of Blackadder.

Such is dramatist Liam Heffron's description of his new drama '1798: The Year of the French', which will have a four night run at the Town Hall Studio Theatre next month.

'1798: The Year of the French' opens in Mayo in, obviously, 1798. Mathew Tone is depressed. It's difficult enough being the ignored younger brother of Wolfe Tone, but now he's stuck with seven hundred homesick Frenchmen, six months late for the rebellion, in the wrong end of the country...and it's raining. Again. Can things possibly get worse?

Written by Liam Heffron, who was the author of the hit drama 'The Tinker's Blade, and directed by Selkie Theatre's George B. Miller, the play will be performed, and broadcast, from Galway's Town Hall Studio Theatre, from Wednesday 12 March to Friday 15 March at 8.30pm.

And, in a fascinating first for Galway theatre, '1798: The Year of The French' will be performed and recorded every night as a live radio play, for eventual airing on radio.

Audience members will arrive to find themselves in a re-created radio studio where the actors are warming up, sending out for cappuccino, and rehearsing the live sound effects with the crew. Think 'Harbor Hotel' meets 'War Of The Worlds', with plenty of audience participation.

The cast features the best of Galway acting talent including Patrick Collins as Orme/Sullivan, Liam Heffron as Matthew Tone, Seamus O'Donnell as Teeling, John O'Dowd as Paddy, Ian Patterson as General Lake, Angela Ryan as Kathleen, Kate Scuffle as the Foley Artist, John Touhy as Bishop Stock, and Tony Walsh as General Humbert. It is directed by George B. Miller, whose recent Galway productions include 'The Tinker's Blade' and 'Broken Moon At Midnight'.

Tickets, which are €15, and €12 concession, can be booked by phone at 091-569777, online at www.townhalltheatregalway.com, or purchased at the Town Hall box office.

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