The Memory of Water
'The Memory of Water' by Shelagh Stephenson won the Laurence Olivier award for Best new Comedy in 2000. It is a hugely moving and darkly comedic emotional rollercoaster of a play that moves at pace and keeps us hooked from start to finish.
It’s the dead of Winter.. the snow is falling heavily outside and we join three sisters and their loved ones as they reunite and gather in their childhood home on the eve of their mother’s funeral. They soon revert to their family roles and squabbling arises over their differing remembering of the same events. As they go through their mother’s things and discuss making the necessary arrangements, feelings are running high, revelations unfold hand some of the old hurts and resentments rear their heads (with the help of a little whiskey!) and results in each of them being forced to confront their past.. And present.
Running through the play constantly is the theme of memory – how we can remember the same events differently or indeed, not at all. Vi, their mother, suffered from Alzheimer's in her final days. The family can’t agree on their memories except for one special one, which they all remember in the same way, and warmly. It’s remarked none of the women are like their mother apart from Mary.. but the memory of Vi is like a trace element through the sisters.
“Water has memory. Depending on how you treat it, what kind of thoughts and emotions you generate, accordingly it behaves in your body”.
This darkly comedic tour de force of a play is about life and loss, identity, disconnection, self-deception, and isolation and of course, love.
Produced and Directed by Jacqueline Carroll
Production Assistant: Naoise McFarland Fitzgibbon
Set, Props and Costume Design : Saorla O'Dowd
Original Artwork : Wayne O'Connor
For more information visit our Instagram page: