The Florians are an amateur dramatic club based in their distinctive converted Nissen hut theatre just off Bught Park in Inverness.

The club celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2024 having been formed in 1944 to entertain troops that were based in the city during the Second World War.

The intimate 98 seater theatre sees multiple productions take place every year, from dramas to comedies, and of course, the Panto!

The next production for the Florians is a performance of Ann Coburn's drama 'Get up and tie your fingers'.

The play is centred around the lives of the 'Herring Lassies' in the Scottish coastal town of Eyemouth in 1881. The everyday lives of the woman and the important work they carried out in the fishing industry form the centre of the work.

However, the focus turns to the events of 'Black Friday' with the loss of 189 men and boys at sea, leaves 93 widows and 267 children without fathers.

The play includes a number of touching monologues read by the Herring Lassies on their loss and the effect the disaster has on them.

The play also includes some lighter moment, some comedy and songs that were sung by the Herring Lassies.

On the Saturday Drop In on Saturday 12th April we were joined in the studio by Fiona Black, who is directing the play, and Morag Barron who plays the role of 'Janet'.

Fiona and Morag came on the air to tell listeners about the play. We also heard how it was Morag's performance of one of the plays monologues that lead to the company taking on a full production for the theatre.

Morag even picked up the a score and gave us one of the songs from the play!

We chatted about the mood of the play, some of the highlights and also their own feelings in taking on a performance based on the real lives of the people who experienced this horrible tragedy.

Fiona and Morag also told us a bit more about the Florians, the work that goes on behind the scenes to support the group and how anyone could volunteer and get involved in a variety of roles.