My Mother Said I Never Should (Student Editions)

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Doris Lipman is superb as Maureen, showing grit, humour and strength of character even as she is constrained by conventions. Fiz Marcus, who was to play Doris, has unfortunately had to withdraw from the tour due to unforeseen health issues.

Following the complex interconnected lives of four generations of women, the play gives us an emotional insight into the generational experiences and expectations which can divide and unite us.

There’s a sense of movement for the women – at one point Margaret says to Jackie ‘You’ve got to go further than me – otherwise, what’s it been worth? Richmond Theatre, Theatre Royal Bath, Derby Theatre, Yvonne Arnaud Guildford, Devonshire Park Theatre Eastbourne, Blackpool Grand, Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds, Malvern Festival Theatre, Theatr Clwyd, York Theatre Royal. heir lo%es2 epectations2 and choices are set against the huge social changes o the twentieth century.

The scenes that follow explore the four characters’ lives and relationships over a span of about 60 years. Signe Beckman’s set design is sparse, with flickering television screens setting up the context of the time without overpowering the individual stories. Seen today, in Paul Robinson’s impeccable revival, it strikes me as warm, witty and well structured, but also wordy.The Heywood society’s rendition of Keatley’s ‘My Mother Said I Never Should’ is a poignant representation of the bittersweet tale of motherhood, opportunity and the impenetrable family ties that connect us to the past. During the clearing of a site for travellers Councillor Knox was seriously assaulted leaving him blind in one eye and with a punctured lung - both permanent injuries. It follows the story of four generations of women: a great-grand-daughter, a daughter, a mother and a grandmother, grappling with social forces that threaten to split them apart as the twentieth century grows older.

Yet at the same time the play contains many challenges if it is to successfully engage with its audiences, not the least of which is its non linear construction. Lastly, Rosie, played by Rebecca Birch gave the lighter, younger element to the women, portraying a youthful Rosie who is only 16 at the end of the play.For the performers, the challenge has been the need to jump backwards and forwards in the time it takes to change a costume or changing from adult conflict to childhood game in a matter of seconds. The play moves back and forth through the lives of four women, and sets the enormous social changes of the twentieth century against the desire to love and to be loved. t is also about how the dierent generations brea ree rom their parent6s traditions and culture. In 2000 it was chosen by the Royal National Theatre as one of the hundred Significant Plays of the Twentieth Century.

E i gh t ee n yea r s l a t e r t h e pl ay, a l t h o u g h ve r y m u ch of i t s e r a , n eve r co m e s a cr os s a s a pe r i od p i e ce ; u n d e r t h e d i r e ct i o n o f S a r a h P u n sh o n t h i s st o r y o f m o t h e r / d a u g h t e r r e l a t i o n sh i p s, p l ay e d o u t a g a i n st t h e ba ckd r op o f w om en ' s e m an ci pa t i on , i s as t o uch i ng an d f un ny a s eve r . I’d actually most like to play Doris, I think I have a very old northern woman inside me – how else could I have written all this age 25? SA – Charlotte Keatley’s play, My Mother Said I Never Should is a powerful saga about four generations of mothers and daughters over the course of the twentieth century.Der mum implies that 4acie had no reason not to wait until she was older to ha%e a baby and that she was putting her lie on hold and not continuing with her education. They show disgust for the idea of little girls being made of 'sugar and spice and all things nice' and then put forth the idea of 'killing their Mummy'.