Theatre: Gutted, Omnibus Theatre, Clapham October 29-30

An Irish black comedy set in a 1980s Dublin fish-factory will be played at the Omnibus Theatre, Clapham, on October 29-30.

Gutted explores the lives of three women, played by Eleanor Byrne, Niamh Finlay and Sarah Hosford, with dark humour and tenderness.

Written by Sharon Byrne, the play draws on her Dublin upbringing to present the lives of three strong women working in a fish factory in the 1980s.

Through comic monologue, the women give us a snapshot of the characters and challenges in their lives at the time.

Exploring themes of family, trust, love and loss, Gutted touches on issues of domestic violence and abortion, which remain as relevant today as they were over 30 years ago.

Sharon Byrne explains: “Growing up close to a fish factory in Dublin, I was intrigued by the charismatic and resilient women who I’d see travelling to and from work there.

“They were tough, hard-working women, but they never stopped chatting and laughing.

Life as a woman in Ireland still has its – often suppressed – challenges, and I felt compelled to raise awareness of these issues and help break the silence.”