Gutted by Sharon Byrne

Gutted, an Irish black comedy by Whistable-based playwright Sharon Byrne, directed by Chris White, will tour to 15 UK venues between Thursday 3 and Wednesday 30 October 2019. Set in a 1980’s Dublin fish factory, Gutted explores the lives of three strong women, played by Eleanor Byrne, Niamh Finlay and Sarah Hosford, with dark humour and tenderness. This tour of Gutted comes after a successful run at The Marlowe Theatre Canterbury in 2017 and the Edinburgh Festival in 2018.

Opening in Canterbury on Thursday 3 October 2019, Gutted will visit Aylesbury, Sudbury, Basildon, Hammersmith, Bromley, Watford, Crawley, Walthamstow, Deal, Hemel Hempstead (18 October), Maidstone, Guildford, Enfield and Clapham.

Sharon Byrne (Charlie’s Wake, Finborough Theatre) draws on her Dublin upbringing to present the lives of three strong women working in a fish factory in the 1980’s. 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.’

‘An exhilarating experience and a wonderful life affirming play’, Mark Everett, Former Director, The Marlowe Theatre Canterbury.

Director Chris White leads Soho Theatre’s Writer’s Lab and is an RSC Associate, directing a production of Henry IV at the Houses of Parliament and leading residencies and projects in China, India and the United States. Most recently he directed Booby’s Bay by Henry Darke.

Gutted was discovered by The Marlowe Theatre Canterbury via their Roar! Writing programme. The show sold out and was the highest selling show at The Marlowe Studio in 2017. It went on to play at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2018. This production is made possible with the support of Arts Council England, Producer Vivienne Foster, writer Sharon Byrne, the Marlowe Theatre Canterbury and First Degree South.

Tickets for the performance at Hemel Hempstead Old Town Hall on 18 October can be purchased at www.oldtownhall.co.uk.