‘Lincoln wanted soldiers, I wanted excitement’
The Curious Case of Albert Cashier tour comes to Solstice
Belvidere, Illinois, 1862: A young Irishman, Albert D J Cashier, enlists with the Union Army in the Civil War and becomes a decorated hero. But unknown to his comrades, Private Cashier is waging an internal war all of his own.
When he is 50 years a veteran, an indiscreet doctor reveals to all of America that Cashier was assigned female at birth, born under the name Jennie Hodgers, from Clogherhead, Co Louth in Ireland.
From that day on Albert’s greatest battle truly begins: for identity, selfhood, and truth. In an original new play, The Curious Case of Albert Cashier: Lincoln's 'Lady' Soldier, devised by the company, Quintessence Theatre use their innovative physical ensemble storytelling techniques mingled with multi-media of stunning projection and emotive music to dramatise the incredible true story of the Clogherhead-born Transgender soldier.
Directed by Anna Simpson, a creative associate of the Pleasance Theatre, London, and practitioner with Shakespeare’s Globe, this exciting, moving and often comedic production, unearths a gem of a tale about a forgotten hero of Irish history, and explores urgent modern questions around gender, self-determination, and human tenacity, paralleling the struggles of the transgender community today.
Quintessence Theatre dedicates itself to exploring the human condition through the most theatrical means available: the actor themselves, their imagination, and embracing the live relationship between actor and audience.
The company is excited to announce that the original ensemble cast who devised the play are all back for the national tour, Ceara Carney, Fiona Keenan O’Brien, Anthony Kinahan, Mark O’Reilly and Leah Rossiter.
The Curious Case of Albert Cashier: Lincoln’s ‘Lady’ Soldier was created in association with Droichead Arts Centre, Drogheda & the National Tour is kindly supported by The Arts Council of Ireland.
A 17 date tour opened on Thursday 14th September at Droichead Arts Centre, Drogheda, continuing to Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny; Civic Theatre, Tallaght, Dublin; Íontas Theatre, Castleblayney, Co Monaghan; Ramor Theatre, Virginia, Co Cavan; Garage Theatre, Monaghan; Birr Theatre & Arts Centre, Co Offaly; Town Hall Theatre, Galway; An Táin Arts Centre, Dundalk, Co Louth; Theatre Royal, Waterford; Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge, Co Kildare; Hawks Well Theatre, Sligo; Solstice Arts Centre, Navan, on Thursday 19th October; Nenagh Arts Centre, Co Tipperary; The Mill Theatre, Dundrum, Dublin; Belltable, Limerick; concluding on Wednesday 8th to Saturday 11th November at Smock Alley Theatre, Temple Bar, Dublin.