My Mother Said I Never Should

Charlotte Keatley's play explores the evolving lives of four generations of women from the same family—Doris, Margaret, Jackie, and Rosie—spanning the 20th century in Manchester and London. The narrative employs a non-linear structure, oscillating between naturalistic scenes set in specific decades (1940s, 60s, 70s, 80s) and surreal 'Wasteground' sequences where the characters interact as children simultaneously. Central to the plot is the concealment of Rosie's true parentage; she is raised as Margaret's daughter but is actually the illegitimate child of Jackie, who pursues a career in art. The play examines the tension between maternal sacrifice and female autonomy, culminating in the revelation of the family secret and a confrontation of generational trauma. It serves as a social commentary on the changing roles of women, contrasting pre-war austerity with post-feminist independence.