That Thing I Never Shared With You

A ‘deceptively simple three-hander about one of the most terrible confessions anybody could hear from a parent.’ Financial Times

After years of estrangement, a father and daughter are reunited over an uneasy breakfast. As her son prepares for a school day he will once again miss, the daughter reveals the reason for her recent isolation, little realising that her own confession will uncover painful secrets left locked away for decades.

I ask him more questions.
And he doesn’t answer.
But at least we have something.
Sometimes I punish him and don’t talk to him for days.
Well, that’s another routine.
Not talking to each other.
He’s stopped calling me ‘Mummy’.
I try to get his attention.
But it doesn’t work.
I try to get his attention.
But it never works.
Silly.
Silly me.
Silly Martín.
Silly routine.

Was that a tremor or is it me?

That Thing I Never Shared With You was first performed in English at the Royal Court Theatre in September 2013, directed by Mark Ravenhill and performed by Jack Boulter, Justine Mitchell and Tim Pigott-Smith.

Later directed by Demetrius Troy at the Victory Gardens Theatre, Chicago, as part of the International Voices Project.

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Back to translation page, or see more about my work with the Royal Court.