'Just let go. Let your body float. You'll still be here but it'll feel like flying in a dream.'
Bo is busy – balancing the pressures of work and the needs of her struggling daughter. When her mother, the irrepressible force-of-nature Beth, is admitted to hospital following a stroke, the practical realities of the present collide with the complexities of their past.
Backstroke is a kaleidoscopic and compassionate play, first performed at the Donmar Warehouse, London, in 2025. It was written and directed by Anna Mackmin, with Celia Imrie and Tamsin Greig playing mother and daughter.
About the Author :
Anna Mackmin is an award-winning writer and director. Her novel Devoured was shortlisted for the Desmond Elliot Prize, and named the New Angle Book of the Year. Backstroke is her first play.
Review :
'Touching... mesmerising... ferociously unsentimental'
'An extraordinary play that puts the audience inside the maelstrom of its characters' lives... a multifaceted portrait of motherhood'
'Touching... an emotional and intimate play... extremely sad, but funny too... a cathartic experience that stays with you long after you leave the theatre behind'
'Compelling and astutely observed... original and moving'
'A heartfelt, unsentimental portrayal of the slippery cord of maternal connection... Beautiful passages of writing, both terrifying and tender... has a ringing emotional authenticity... there's also a huge amount of laughter'
'Gripping and unflinching'
'Bittersweet... though fraught with knotty tension, a faint ray of tender light gently emerges from beneath, slowly illuminating the room with heartfelt warmth'
'Works its way under your skin quietly, lingering long after you've left the theatre... feels heartbreakingly real... Mackmin's writing shines in the way it captures shifting emotions... There's humour too, giving the piece a depth of emotion... a deeply moving experience'
