Love, loss, patriarchy, and Women on the Frontline…but of which war? Inspired by true stories and set in the Irish War of Independence, Quintessence Theatre bring The Midnight Scalping of Peg Carroll, a new historical drama to vivid theatrical life at Droichead Arts Centre on May 4,5 and 6 with a matinee on the 5th.
23rd of April 1921. Midnight. Three men, masked and heavily armed, break down the door of Mr. Padraic Carroll. But they’re not there for him…They’ve come for his daughter. Peg Carroll: the fraterniser, the alleged ‘horizontal collaborator’ of the Crown Forces, about to be dragged from her bed, and scalped by her own people for charges never brought, and a crime never proven…
Devised by the company inspired by true stories, this stunningly stylised and expressionistic original drama sees Quintessence Theatre use their unique dazzling physical ensemble theatre techniques to explore love, loss and patriarchal violence throughout Irish history and today, all set against the dramatic backdrop of the Irish War of Independence.
Created and produced in association with Droichead Arts Centre. Contains strong language, and themes of violence and sexual assault. Suitable for ages 14+
Tickets: www.droichead.com or 041 98 33946
Cast
- Leah Rossiter
- Anthony Kinahan
- Fiona Keenan O’Brien
- Mark O’Reilly
Creatives/Crew
- Director – Anna Simpson
- Choreography – Anna Simpson & Fiona Keenan O’Brien
- Lighting Design – Sophie Cassidy
- Costume & Sound Design – Anna Simpson
- Producer – Anthony Kinahan
About Quintessence Theatre
Founded in 2015 by director Anna Simpson as the inaugural Theatre Company-in-Residence of the An Táin Arts Centre, Dundalk, Quintessence dedicates itself to exploring the human condition through the most theatrical means available to us: the actor themselves, their imagination, and embracing the live relationship between actor and audience.
After a hugely successful 4 years as Company-in-Residence at An Táin Arts Centre, Dundalk, Quintessence was delighted to develop a closer partnership with Droichead Arts Centre, Drogheda, as Theatre Company-in-Residence for 2019/2020, where Droichead supported a year-long programme of work Hear Me Roar: Women, Gender and Silence‘ programme.
Quintessence is made up of five core artists: Producer Anthony Kinahan, Executive Producer Paul Hayes, Company Manager Leah Rossiter, Company Liaison Fiona Keenan O’Brien, and Artistic Director Anna Simpson.
Recent Productions include Into the Dark (Anaverna House, Dundalk), Behind Locked Doors (Drogheda Arts Festival 2022, Droichead Arts Centre; An Táin Arts Centre), The Star of Chester’s Lane (National Tour 2021; Droichead, Drogheda Arts Festival Commission Winner 2018), The Curious Case of Albert Cashier: Lincoln’s ‘Lady’ Soldier (Droichead), #Me Too, Three, Four… (Droichead), Warrior of the Táin (An Táin), Dracula (Smock Alley, 2018; Winner of the Broadway World Ireland Award Best New Play 2018/19), Cracks (National Tour 2018), The Deadly Wizard of Oz (Anaverna), Some of Our Children (An Táin).
