Award-winning comedy show coming to Liverpool Everyman

The 30th anniversary revival of Shelagh Stephenson’s Olivier Award‑winning comedy The Memory of Water is coming to the Everyman 

The story is set in the Winter of 1996, as The Spice Girls topped the charts, football had failed to come home, and Dolly the Sheep had just been cloned. The Memory of Water tells the story of Mary, Teresa, and Catherine, three sisters who return to their Northern childhood home for the first time in years, for their mother’s funeral. As they sort through clothes, keepsakes, and ghosts of the past, the whisky flows, resentments surface, and long-held silences crack open with unexpected laughter.  

The production will run from Wednesday, 25 February to Saturday, 14 March.

Nathan Powell, Creative Director of Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse, said:  

“This is a beautiful story about family — full of love, laughter, and the kind of chaos that feels instantly familiar. Stephenson captures how we all remember things differently, and how those memories shape who we are. It’s moving, funny, and deeply relatable — a perfect fit for the Everyman stage.”  

Directed by Lotte Wakeham (Artistic Director at Octagon Theatre, Bolton) this production features a stellar cast in this powerful and funny family drama including Vicky Binns (Coronation Street, Emmerdale), Victoria Brazier (The Book Thief, Octagon Theatre), Reginald Edwards (The Walrus Has A Right to Adventure, Liverpool Everyman),  Charlie De Melo (Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare’s Globe), Helen Flanagan (Coronation Street), Polly Lister (One Man, Two Guvnors, Liverpool Playhouse; Speedo Mick – The Scouse Stomper, Liverpool’s Royal Court), Leah Marks (Vignettes 2025, HER Productions), and Charlie Ryan (The Jungle Book, Spring and Port Wine and Little Shop of Horrors, Octagon Theatre).   

Lotte Wakeham, Director of The Memory of Water added:  

“The Memory of Water is one of those rare plays that makes you laugh out loud and then catches you off guard with its emotional truth. I’m thrilled to be directing this special 30th anniversary revival, and to be collaborating once again with our wonderful friends at Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse.”  

The Memory of Water is co‑produced with Octagon Theatre Bolton, following their 2022 collaboration on One Man, Two Guvnors, bringing together two of the North West’s leading producing theatres to celebrate one of the most beloved British plays of the past three decades.  

A post-show discussion will be held after the 7:30pm performance on Wednesday 4th March, hosted by the theatre’s Creative Director, Nathan Powell. It’s also free to attend with a ticket for that evening’s performance.  

The show also includes a Captioned performance on Thursday 26 February 7.30pm, a British Sign Language performance on Thursday 5 March 7.30pm, an Audio described performance on Wednesday 11 March 7.30pm and an Enhance performance on Saturday 14 March 2.00pm for people with visual impairment, which includes a pre-show delivery of Enhanced programme notes and a Touch Tour. 

The Memory of Water runs at the Liverpool Everyman from Wednesday 25 February to Saturday 14 March, with ticket prices from £16–£47.

Book your tickets here

Find out more about the theatre shows that are coming to Liverpool in 2026 here.

Find out what’s good up North on our new platform, The Northern Guide. 

From the best hotels, beauty spots, days out, food and more up North – visit thenorthernguide.com and follow The Northern Guide on Instagram HERE.