KATE THE NAVVY STAR OF CHESTER LANE
SHE had a lowly start in life, and a decidedly grisly demise, but one of Drogheda’s most beloved street characters Kate the Navvy is to be celebrated in not one, but two plays in this year’s Drogheda Arts Festival.
The world premiere of The Star of Chester’s Lane by Quintessence Theatre Company will take place at the Droichead Arts Centre on Sunday May 6th.
The piece is the recipient of the Drogheda Arts Festival Commission 2018 and Quintessence Theatre uses their dazzling physical ensemble theatre techniques to reimagine bustling 19th century Drogheda and the remarkable true story of one of the town’s best loved historical street characters.
“We were absolutely delighted to receive the commission, as Kate’s is a story our company members really wanted to tell,” says Anna Simpson, who will direct the production.
“Like so many women in Irish history, she has been over-looked, and her tale is tragic, but is also full of humour, and we want to capture her irreverent spirit, in a playful way.”
The story begins in 1854 Drogheda. Catherine McGrath’s husband has fallen to his death working on the building of the Boyne Viaduct, leaving his wife alone to fend for herself. What’s a poor woman to do? Put on his clothes, of course, and take up his place in the world!
A woman well beyond her time, she loved and laughed and lived a fascinating and colourful existence, managing to pack several lifetimes into her 60 years as one of Drogheda’s most infamous residents.
Although she lived in a wretched mud-cabin house at Chester’s Lane, she was seldom off the streets, and any money she made she spent much of it on alcohol. As a result, she was very often a frequent visitor to the local Petty Session Courts and a `guest of honour` at the local Scarlet St Jail.
Kate was sadly killed after being run over by a cart which broke away from a horse while carrying a load of stone down Georges St from the quarry of Kilineer in the summer of 1887. However, she will be forever remembered as she is the key figure in John Cassidy’s painting, titled ‘A Street View of Drogheda’ which was crafted in 1881 and which now hangs in the Highlanes Gallery.
“We worked with local historian Brendan Matthews and learned of other great characters like ‘Biddy the Horse’ and ‘Hang the Cat’ all crying out to be put in a play,” says English-born Anna.
“It is a high energy, frenetic play in just three acts, starring Drogheda actors Leah Rossiter and Anthony Kinihan in the title and multiple roles, and Fiona Keenan O’Brien”.
Tickets for The Star of Chester’s Lane, which premieres at the Droichead Arts Centre on Sunday May 6th are priced € 18 and €16.