Important Revival Opens in Watford

A major new production of Charlotte Keatley‘s 1987 success My Mother Said I Never Should opens at the Palace Theatre, Watford on Tuesday 29 September with previews from this Thursday (24 September). it’s directed by Brigid Lamour}, who staged the original production and stars [Claire Brown, Katherine Manners Eva Pearce and Abigail Thaw (daughter of the late John Thaw).

Lamour, the Palace’s artistic director, is delighted that “all four actresses love the play, which explores the ever-changing roles and expectations of mothers and daughters, through the lives of four generations of women in one family. I wanted to work with people who responded to the text, and that can bring a whole other level to a production. They are all actors with real emotional honesty, and a genuine feel for comedy, both of which are essential to this play.”

The designer is Ben Stones, who has also worked on the West End production of Speaking In Tongues. Kiss of the Spider Woman and Creditors. He has also designed for the Southwark Playhouse, Tricycle Theatre, the Royal Exchange, Manchester and Shakespeare’s Globe. Mark Jonathan, who will light the set, was head of lighting at the National Theatre.

Since 1987 My Mother Said I Never Should has been placed on many academic syllabuses and translated into 23 languages for productions from Finland to Peru. One considered judgement sees it as completely redefining the concept of family drama.