Three estranged sisters meet on the eve of their mother's funeral to argue and remember in Shelagh Stephenson’s analysis of memory and family. As the conflicts of the past converge, everyday lies and tensions reveal the particular patterns and strains of family relationships. As they attempt to organise her funeral, their memories of their childhood run together and the secrets of their separate lives are revealed.
The Memory of Water won the 2000 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Comedy.