The world premiere production of Angela's Ashes The Musical arrives in Dublin next week. It opened in Limerick this week, and is next taking up residence at The Bord Gais Energy Theatre.
The story many will know from the film version, but producers are keen to stress there is plenty of humor sprinkled throughout the stage adaptation, and it's been described as "the Irish Blood Brothers".
The story is of a young boy who moved from Brooklyn to his family home in Limerick. The musical focuses on the poverty the family went through in Ireland during the 1930's and 1940's. It goes from sad to funny as the cast portray the families humour while dealing with their alcoholic father.
The script shows the emotional story of life in Limerick from that time while highlighting Frank McCourt's memoir of Angela's Ashes.
West End star Jacinta Whyte has returned home to Dublin to take on the role as Angela. Jacinta has been involved in some of the biggest musicals of all time such as Les Miserables, Blood Brothers and Miss Saigon.
During rehearsal Jacinta talked about how she's been preparing for the show and why she wanted to be involved, "I'm used to getting in and singing and warming up and all of that but this has been quite hectic".
"I mean it's like being an athlete, people just think you get up there and you sing and dance but it's like anything, you have to prepare for it and train".
"I'm nervous because it's a new piece and playing a character that was a real person, she lived, she existed, she was Frank McCourt's Mother so I want to do justice to the women that she was... I want to make her strong because she was a really strong women".
Angela's Ashes The Musical will run at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre from July 18th - 30th.
