Stage Review CONSUMED The Belgrade Theatre

Actor Julia Dearden in Consumed at The Belgrade Theatre  Photograph Pamela Raith

Consumed ⭐⭐⭐

Written by Karis Kelly

Directed by Katie Posner

'not such a happy birthday in a Northern Irish home that harbours secrets' 

Overview

An Irish cast playing four generations of women from one family who reunite to celebrate the birthday of the newly turned nonagenarian member, played by actor, Julia Dearden. This old lady, a domineering matriarchal sort, who, along with the two from the middle generations, are constantly bossing and point scoring between themselves. While the sensitive, great granddaughter, believes that she carries the burden and pain of all three of her elders' emotional hurt, resentment(s) and dysfunction, genetically, within her own body. 

The Cast of Consumed photograph by Pamela Raith

Comment

This play has echoes of Edward Albee's Three Tall Women because the complexities of the subject(s) explored in Consumed are within a script that is quite brutal, cold and unkind. Consisting of a similar miserable theme to the afore mentioned: as this play too is set within four walls and reveals bleak, unhealthy turmoil of supressed and overly expressed emotions happening between an intergenerational group when they come together. 

Playing the blame game in families is nothing new, but intergenerational trauma is a term more widely used and is the main theme here. This is why Consumed is a modern play because we see the point of view of the youngest in this group (played by Muireann Ní Fhaogáin). 

Millennials and those from subsequent generations are more inclined to seek therapy to resolve issues from outside agents and are more willing to share their issues publically than previous generations were. And, the development of an eating disorder(s) anxiety or depression are patterns recognised as physical responses that are mirrored in families; these are the points made, highlighted and hammered home in this play.

The set is splendidly crafted and an elaborate design build of a full kitchen, half hallway and stairway in the home of the birthday girl's daughter and her husband, and within this setting there is full on action as it chugs along to a point when crashes in spectacular fashion. 

For the reviewer it was just all a bit weird and chaotic and so a good call that it is only one Act with no interval as one can only take so much loud nagging and cursing. It is a wild ride, with intention, but as there's no subtlety Consumed somehow misses a beat.

Pictured actor Andrea Irvine Consumed - Photograph Pamela Raith

Stage Review CONSUMED The Belgrade Theatre by theatre critic, Debra Hall who attended the press night performance on Thursday 04 September, 2025 7.45pm

REFERENCES

Pollard, M. Press release - Cast and creative team announced for the world premiere of Consumed at Belgrade Theatre, Coventry [...] ANRPR 18 July 25

Pollard, M. Press Night Invitation - Consumed - Belgrade Theatre, Thursday 4 September ANRPR 06 Aug

Pollard, M. Press Night Information - Consumed - Belgrade Theatre, Thursday 4 September ANRPR 03 Sept 2025