one4review | On 04, Aug 2025

Consumed is a pitch-black comedy by Karis Kelly that brings four generations of Northern Irish women together in a domestic kitchen for matriarch Eileen’s 90th birthday. Her daughter Gillian hosts the gathering in her home, where she also cares for her ageing mother. Returning from London are Gillian’s daughter Mirren and granddaughter Jenny, whose attitudes clash immediately with the world they’ve long since left behind.

Set against a well-observed, wintery kitchen backdrop, the play blends dark humour with a deep undercurrent of unresolved trauma. Each generation comes armed with their own strong opinions, clashing over identity, duty, and personal freedom. While some of the material trades on familiar Northern Irish tropes, it is delivered with a wink, playfully subverted or exaggerated to serve the tension rather than fall into caricature.

Gillian’s erratic behaviour gradually takes centre stage, raising questions about her mental state. Her husband’s absence, allegedly out playing golf, casts a long, silent shadow over the household. As resentment and misunderstanding stack up, we’re drawn towards an ending that feels both inevitable and shocking.

The ensemble cast – Julia Dearden, Andrea Irvine, Caoimhe Farren, and Muireann Ní Fhaogáin – bring sharp timing and emotional weight to their roles. The packed house at the Traverse was fully absorbed throughout.

Consumed is a striking piece of theatre: thoughtful, bitterly funny, and emotionally raw. While it occasionally treads well-worn ground, the strong performances and unflinching honesty elevate it into something compelling and memorable. I would highly recommend catching this performance.

****

Reviewed by Howard

Traverse Theatre, Traverse 1

Various Times (1hr 20 mins)

Until 24th August (not 11^th or 18^th)