Irish Affair A Love Story for all Time

Book, Music & Lyrics: Stuart Brayson
Director/Producer: Deirdre Masterson
Musical Director, Musical Arrangements & Orchestrations: David Wray
Executive Producers: Sir Tim Rice, Chris Wright CBE and The National Opera House. 

Irish Affair – A Love Story For All Time returns to the National Opera House on the main O’Reilly stage in a highly anticipated new semi-staged production, which has been significantly developed since the workshop version of Irish Affair premiered last June in the intimate performance space of the Jerome Hynes Theatre.

With additional music, double the cast and the addition of dancers and musicians, this new version of Irish Affair will be introduced by the legendary lyricist and Executive Producer of Irish Affair, Sir Tim Rice, who has a plethora of global successful credits to his name including The Lion King, Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar. 

Set in the rural village of Fethard-on-Sea, Co Wexford in the 1950s, Irish Affair – A Love Story for all Time, is based on the true story of married couple Sean and Sheila Cloney née Kelly, one Catholic and one Protestant, and the inspirational journey of how their love drove them to overcome the religious and political obstacles which divided the nation and became an international incident. 

This brand new musical is penned by West End composer Stuart Brayson, (From Here to Eternity), produced and directed by Wexford soprano Deirdre Masterson (The Irish College of Music Theatre) with musical arrangements/direction by David Wray (Michael Collins and Angela’s Ashes), with support by The National Opera House. One of the songs from the score, ‘She Is My Everything’, was broadcast for the very first time on ‘Elaine Paige on Sunday’ on BBC Radio 2 to an incredible response from both host and listeners. 

The National Opera House and The Irish College of Music Theatre proudly collaborated in presenting the premiere of Irish Affair in a series of workshop presentations at The Jerome Hynes Theatre in June 2024. With an enthusiastic reaction from the audience and the encouragement of lyricist Sir Tim Rice and global music executive Chris Wright CBE, director and producer Deirdre Masterson and composer and lyricist Stuart Brayson were encouraged to develop the piece further. This new version brings the musical to a whole new level doubling the cast size from 20 to 40, including more characters, dancers and musicians and plenty of additional music.

Irish Affair is a mesmerising piece of drama, based on true events. The narration is further enhanced with a luscious score, infectious toe-tapping melodies, unforgettable hauntingly beautiful airs and a sprinkle of traditional Irish influences, evoking both tears of sorrow and laughter throughout.