Untitled Matriarch Play (or Seven Sisters)

Synopsis

A cluttered family home, where the ghosts of unfulfilled expectations linger in every room.

Lorraine, a 55-year-old matriarch, gathers her four adult daughters – Karen, Mimi, Claire, and teenage Becka – to announce her plans to have a baby boy via surrogate. This revelation sets off a chain reaction of sibling rivalry, unresolved resentments, and identity crises as each woman grapples with her place in the family hierarchy and her own life choices. As the pregnancy progresses, alliances shift, secrets emerge, and long-simmering tensions boil over, forcing each sister to confront what it means to be a daughter, a sister, and a woman.

Nikole Beckwith’s play is a darkly comic exploration of family dynamics, female identity, and the weight of maternal expectations. Through rapid-fire dialogue and absurdist touches, Beckwith dissects the complexities of sisterhood and the ways in which women internalise societal pressures. The play’s structure, moving from group scenes to intimate monologues, allows each character to reveal hidden depths and vulnerabilities.