Women sewing up Kilcullen Drama Group

When Kilcullen Drama Group opens with The Factory Girls by Frank McGuiness later in May, they'll be doing something quite different from what we usually see, writes Brian Byrne.

Set in a shirt factory in Donegal that's in rocky financial shape, the story is about a group of women workers there, who lock themselves in after the owner insists on an unreasonable work rate.

The story is tough. But so are the women, and there's a caveat on the Kilcullen Drama Group tickets that this is a play not suitable for children. It's a gritty presentation, though there's humanity and humour too. But the factory girls have a life more bitter than sweet, and that's going to be how this play, which made the author's reputation in 1982, runs out.

There are two men in the story, the hapless factory owner and the would-be Lothario trade union representative. If the women's life shows an uncertain future, at least they have each other. The men, not so much, of anything.

This is going to test the regulars who follow Kilcullen Drama Group, and usually expect farce. A grown-up play for grown-ups. The group have given us serious before. But this time the women are sewing it up to a whole new level.

Booking will be as usual at Berney's Chemist. Stay tuned for when that opens.

The cast list is Ellen - Colette Fitzgerald; Rebecca - Fiona Kelly; Rosemary - Sinead O'Neill; Una - Eilis Phillips; Vera - Joan Murphy; Bonner - Gerry O'Donoghue; Rohan - Vivian Clarke.

Eilis Phillips is Directing, with Siobhan Thompson  and Laura Cross doing Continuity, Set Design by Letitia Moylan, Stage Managing by Gerry Kelly and Steve Kinneavey, and Anita O'Neill and Nessa Dunlea doing Front of House.

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