Shelagh Stephenson is an award-winning writer of stage and radio plays. Her most recent work, Enlightenment, premiered at the Abbey Theatre in 2005. Methuen Drama has published a collected edition of the writer's plays: Stephenson Plays: 1.

A Memory of Water was Stephenson's first play, opening in London in 1996, and was awarded the prestigious Olivier Award for Best Comedy.

Three sisters meet on the eve of their mother's funeral; as the conflicts of the past converge, everyday lies and tensions reveal the particular patterns and strains of family relationships.

This Student Edition features the full text of the play and an introduction that includes a plot summary and a discussion of the themes, characters, structure, language, style and production history of the play. Notes on words and phrases in the text, questions for further study and a bibliography provide students with everything they need to study and appreicate this award-winning play.