My Mother Said I Never Should

Set against the backdrop of Manchester, Oldham, and London, My Mother Said I Never Should is a poignant, bittersweet tale that explores themes of love, jealousy, and the cost of freedom.

The play chronicles the lives of four women as they navigate the sweeping social changes of the 20th century. Utilising a kaleidoscopic time structure, Charlotte Keatley’s narrative focuses on four generations of a single family confronting the pivotal moments of their lives.

In 1940, Doris, a former teacher, urges her nine-year-old daughter, Margaret, to mind her manners and practice the piano. By 1969, Margaret’s relationship with her own daughter, Jackie, is strained as the art student experiments with newfound sexual freedom. When Jackie becomes pregnant at 18 and has baby Rosie, a life-altering decision is made that impacts all their lives irrevocably.

Written in 1985 and first staged at the Contact Theatre in Manchester, Charlotte Keatley’s award-winning play has become the most frequently performed work by a female playwright worldwide.

Book your tickets now to witness this timeless, heart-wrenching story.