‘Kate the Navvy’ and others immortalised
IF you’d never heard tell of one of the best known, and apparently best loved, street characters of 19th century Drogheda, Kate the Navvy, you’re certainly going to know her after this year’s Droichead Arts Festival.
You wait a century or so for a play about the infamous Catherine McGrath, alias Kate The Navvy, and two come along at once!
The Immortals is a wonderful new creation by Upstate Theatre Company, devised and directed by Grainne Rafferty, and exclusive to the Drogheda Arts Festival 2018.
Described as ‘a fusion of history and place’, this community performance examines contemporary issues through the eyes of some of Drogheda’s familiar characters.
‘We have taken our inspiration from a wonderful painting called ‘ A Street View of Drogheda’ which was crafted in 1881 and which now hangs in the Highlanes Gallery,’ explains Grainne, herself an accomplished actor and playwright.
‘Kate will be forever remembered as the key figure in this painting by John Cassidy’s painting, which, with its nod to all levels of society, is a perfect slice of Drogheda in the 19th century.’
The painting forms part of the Drogheda Municipal Collection, and shows four figures in West Street, Drogheda in the late 1800s, with the Tholsel clearly depicted in the background.
‘You have Kate in her apron and shawl alongside a beggar, an affluent woman, and a young boy, with a delivery cart in the distance – all layers of the town represented in one image,’ she points out.
‘I even learned the artist was a barman in the White Horse Hotel in West Street, before going on to become a sculptor for Queen Victoria, so we are capturing all that in our one hour play.’
In ‘ The Immortals’ 16 local actors draw on historical influences from the town brought together to answer modern questions about how art and society combine.
‘Even though it is set in 1950s Ireland, we look at how Drogheda would be viewed through the eyes of two great local artists Nano Reid and Bea Orpen, and will reflect conditions in the town from different points of view,’ adds Grainne.
‘As well as Kate – who you can imagine never would have visited an art exhibition - we’ll feature other wonderful local names and characters like ‘Sling the Pan’, and ‘ Thump the Monkey’, names and faces which define Drogheda’
With the help of local historian Brendan Matthews, Grainne also got an insight into the tougher side of some Drogheda residents.
‘We had access to the notes from the Petty Court Sessions, which could be hilarious but also heartbreaking, where people like Kate the Navvy might have ended up in jail because she couldn’t pay a fine.
‘Yet she had a daughter whom she managed to keep from the workhouse, even though he became a widow at a young age, and did what she could to support her family.
‘We also heard how women grew herbs for Mr Ball of Ballsgrove House for 1p for a three-stone bag, and then were sold onto the soldiers in the UK. It’s all part of our local fabric.’
Grainne has been involved with Upstate Theatre for over a decade but working for them for two. Founded in 1997, Grainne says Director Declan Mallon and Elaine Cronin are a joy to work with.
‘I am lucky to work with some really inspirational people, and get wonderful guidance and mentoring from Declan Gorman, Collette Farrell too,’ she adds.
‘I am writing a stage play at the moment, and I’m also very excited about staging this one in Drogheda’s latest artistic space The Chocolate Factory. Val Rutledge deserves a very special mention for this initiative in the town.’
The Immortals will be staged on Saturday 5th May & Sunday 6th May at The Chocolate Factory, Merchant’s Quay. Tickets are priced €10.