The enduring popularity of Charlotte Keatley’s 1987 play – which is frequently revived around the world – is perhaps in its perceptive portrayal of how bad families can be at communicating. As parents we wrestle with how much of our own value system to pass on, and are confronted with what we’ve made of our lives, when we bring up a child, or choose not to. The poignancy of the plot was made even more apparent by the intimacy of Corpus Playroom, the most effective setting to convey the stark conflict between childhood ignorance and the omniscience of hindsight. JD – I’ve staged it with 3 Deaf actors and 1 hearing actor - and within that company we have profoundly Deaf, sign language user - EJ, and we have 2 Deaf actresses who both sign and speak. The well laid out informative programme told us that she had been steeped in theatre, seeing about 250 plays annually in her role as a critic.

It aims to promote interest in the theatre and foster dialogue, understanding and appreciation for different artistic productions around the world. The cast of four deftly switch between these time frames, and are convincing both as exuberant kids and careworn women.But it was amazing – you could feel how much the audience were gripped: something bigger than all of us burst into life; I’ve met people who still remember it. Sarah Nolan as Margaret completed the quartet adding her own style and grace to her thoughtful interpretation. 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. Widely studied on drama syllabuses, the play moves back and forth through the lives of its characters as it sets the enormous social changes of this century against the needs of individual women.

Throughout the play, we see how the expectations of the young women have changed in the post war period, with developments in social attitudes, from post-war austerity through the 60s and ‘liberation’ to a supposedly empowered present.Margaret dies of stomach cancer, Rosie, on discovering that Jackie is her mother, is angry with her, and goes to live with Doris.

The play was revised for a successful run at the Royal Court Theatre in 1989, and in 1990 she was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Most Promising Newcomer Award. Her self centredness driven through having a child so young and giving her up then finding success, fame and fortune came across well. Fiz Marcus, who was to play Doris, has unfortunately had to withdraw from the tour due to unforeseen health issues. The action takes place in Manchester, Oldham and London, moving in time between the 1920s and the 1980s. SA – Jeni, have you and Charlotte Keatley changed the script much in developing it for a bilingual version with British Sign Language as well as English?JD – One of the things that Charlotte and I have talked about is, and I think she really likes is that we’ve really brought out the physicality of these 4 women. So, we’ve had to make some adaptations like that – which has been quite fun, and Charlotte’s been well up for all of those.