THE MEMORY OF WATER by Shelagh Stephenson

Three sisters gather in their childhood home on the eve of their mother’s funeral, only to find that memory is anything but stable. As stories are shared, contradicted, and reshaped, old resentments resurface and long-buried truths emerge. The Memory of Water is a dark comedy that understands grief not as a solemn ritual, but as something messy, revealing, and often unexpectedly funny.

Written by Shelagh Stephenson, the play captures the uneasy balance between humor and heartbreak that defines how families survive loss. Characters argue over trivial details, cling to competing versions of the past, and stumble through moments of tenderness and cruelty with disarming honesty. Memory becomes both comfort and weapon, exposing how personal narratives shape—and distort—our understanding of the people we love.

Produced by Burbage Theatre Co in partnership with WomensWork Theatre Collaborative, this production embraces clarity, restraint, and sharp wit. The Memory of Water invites audiences to laugh because the truth is recognizable, then quietly asks what stories we protect, what we let go of, and how grief changes the way we see ourselves and each other.