My Mother Said I Never Should: tickets on sale now!

My Mother Said I Never Should is coming to Llanymynech

A MODERN classic, which follows four women across the tumultuous 20^th century and their desires to love and be loved, My Mother Said I Never Should is coming to Llanymynech in July.

The LADS’ summer production of Charlotte Keatley’s award-winning play – translated into 22 languages and performed all over the world – will be Anna Lingard’s directorial debut.

Set in Manchester, Oldham and London, My Mother Said I Never Should is a poignant, bittersweet story about four women, and about love, jealousy and the price of freedom.

Doris (1900), Margaret (1931), Jackie (1952) and Rosie (1971): four women from the same family; born in four very different times in history; four very different lives, but the same goals…. using a kaleidoscopic time structure, My Mother Said I Never Should focuses on the four generations as they confront the most significant moments of their lives.

It’s wartime, and former teacher Doris encourages her nine-year-old daughter, Margaret, to mind her manners and practice the piano. The late 1960s and Margaret’s relationship with her own daughter is strained, as art student Jackie experiments with her new found sexual freedom. When Jackie becomes pregnant at 18 and has a baby, Rosie, all their lives change irrevocably…

‘In its revelation of mother-daughter emotions over the years, the play is without rivals.
It is a classic.’ The Times

Director Anna Lingard will be a familiar face to regular LADS audiences, and this will be her first time directing. “This was a play I have wanted to direct for a long time, ever since I saw it on stage as a teenager,” she said. “It left a lasting impression on me, shaping the way I experience theatre, and I hope it will have a similar affect with our local audience.”

Written in 1985, My Mother Said I Never Should is the most commonly performed work by a female playwright worldwide and earned Keatley the George Devine Award, as well as the Manchester Evening News Award for Best New Play. In 1990 she was nominated for an Olivier Award.

It’s a play many people will be familiar with, especially as it features on some GCSE English Literature courses – so don’t miss this chance to see this thought-provoking, intriguing and emotive play on stage.

My Mother Said I Never Should is on at Llanymynech Village Hall on Thursday, July 26 to Saturday, July 28 at 7.45pm. Tickets cost £7 (children half-price) and are available from Ticketsource (see links below) or from the Village Shop, Llanymynech, and Rowanthorn, Oswestry.

CLICK HERE TO BUY FOR THURSDAY, JULY 26
CLICK HERE TO BUY FOR FRIDAY, JULY 27
CLICK HERE TO BUY FOR SATURDAY, JULY 28

Your local theatre needs you!

In November, LADS will be producing two WW1 plays linked to the Wilfred Owen Centenary Festival.
'The Forester's House', written by Neil Rhodes of the LADS, depicts the last hours in the life of Wilfred Owen and his fellow soldiers, as they prepared to advance across the Sambre-Oise canal. It will be directed by Pam Johnson.
'The Accrington Pals' (Peter Whelan) follows young soldiers from Lancashire who signed up together in a 'Pals' regiment, and also the lives of the women they left behind. Director: Alison Utting.

We are looking for a few more young men to join our ranks. Rehearsals won't start just yet, but we do need to source uniforms which is why we are casting now.

If you would like to find out more just email us: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone 830558. Or you can find us on Facebook (The LADS).

More awards for LADS

LADS is thrilled to announce that two of our youngest members, Grace Bowyer and Melissa Chapman, have brought home TWO awards from the Montgomeryshire One-Act Play Festival.

'Red Dress Manor', an original play written by the two girls, was heaped with praise by independent adjudicator David Price. When the trophies were presented on the final night, they were thrilled to discover they had been awarded Best Junior Production - and that they were to share the trophy for Best Junior Performance.

Melissa and Grace have performed with the LADS in several recent productions, as well as being key members of Roleplay, Llanymynech's popular junior drama club. We are so excited that their hard work and talent has been recognised and look forward to lots more success in the future for them both.

Casting call

Great roles for women in the LADS 2018 summer production

Anna Lingard is making her directorial debut with a stunning play for four women. 'My Mother Said I Never Should', by Charlotte Keatley, is a groundbreaking classic. A challenging text, this powerful but playful play provides insight into the lives of four generations of women set against the enormous social changes of the twentieth century, and the desire to love and be loved. Chosen by the National Theatre as one of the top one hundred significant plays of the 20th century.

There will be two open workshop/audition evenings at Llanynymech Village Hall on Tuesday 24th April and Friday 27th April 7.30-9.30pm. The parts are for women of all ages. There is an open invitation to the workshop even if you then decide you don't want to be considered for a part. Just come and have fun!

If you would like to be involved but can't get to either of the workshops, please email Anna on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Important update on our one-act plays

Because of the eye-watering quantity of theatrical entertainment on offer this time, we have decided to present three (not four) of the one-act plays on each of our performance nights.

The performances will be as follows:

Thursday 19th April - ''Is it something I said?' , 'Red Dress Manor' and 'The House on Peachey Street'

Friday 20th April - 'Red Dress Manor', ''The House on Peachey Street' and 'Last Cigarette'

Saturday 21st April - 'Is it something I said?', 'Red Dress Manor', and 'Last Cigarette'

If this causes any problems with tickets already purchased, please don't hesitate to contact us for a refund or replacement on 01691 830558.

Please also note that performances start at 7.00pm (doors open 6.30pm).