Using direct clone of moodle-theme_essential via github
currently in branch master
Here's the version.php info:
$plugin->version = 2015022300; // YYYYMMDDVV.
$plugin->maturity = MATURITY_STABLE; // this version's maturity level.
$plugin->release = '2.8.1.1 (Build: 2015022200)';
$plugin->requires = 2014111000.00; // 2.8 (Build: 2015022300).
$plugin->component = 'theme_essential';
$plugin->dependencies = array();
See my comment here:
https://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=281368&parent=1207541