25 years after the broadcast of the drama 'Insurrection' historical advisor to the series Kevin B Nowlan questions some of the approaches taken by the production.
'Wednesday Report' continues the debate over how and if the 1916 Rising should be celebrated or commemorated.
In this excerpt from the programme the historical advisor on the drama series 'Insurrection' provides a critique of the techniques used in the production.
'Insurrection' written by Hugh Leonard and directed by Louis Lentin used the technique of reportage to tell the story of the 1916 Rising. However, not everyone was happy with this presentation of the historical events.
It presented a heroic and uncomplicated view of 1916, an interpretation with which some of those involved in the series are now uneasy.
Professor Kevin B Nowlan, University College Dublin, historical advisor on the series is critical of the technique used in the production saying it was,
Cowboy and Indian... This thing of introducing television cameras into 1916 when they weren't even invented or even thought about... was most unfortunate.
Professor Kevin B Nowlan describes how in the series all the British army officers spent much of the time shouting and never spoke in normal voices, a similar technique used in war films featuring Germans. A further criticism of 'Insurrection' is that it could be interpreted in such a way as to give people unhistorical conclusions of the events of 1916.
This episode of 'Wednesday Report' was broadcast on 27 March 1991. The reporter was Liam O'Flanagan.
