Nudity, albeit brief, is featured in the next production at the Lace Market Theatre, a comedy about a mother-daughter relationship called Jumpy, written by April de Angelis. Director Hazel Salisbury explains why the piece is like Alan Bennett with a feminine twist.

HILARY has reached her mid-life crisis. She’s 50, both her marriage and job are on the skids, and she’s desperately afraid of losing her daughter as well.

It’s a long way from how she started out adult life, with such high ideals and expectations. As a student, at the Greenham Common peace camp, she was ready to fight for world peace and proper recognition for woman’s place in the world.

Now Tillie, Hilary’s (very nearly) sweet sixteen-year-old daughter has her own rebellion going. Like mother, like daughter.

And Hilary is totally out of her depth trying to deal with it.

Of course, she thinks it’s ok for young people to get into sexual relationships if they want to - but she can’t believe they really do... at least not her daughter.

And if Tillie is having sex, Hilary wants it under her roof where she can, if not keep an eye, at least listen to the creaking bedsprings.

Maybe Hilary needs to "get a life" as Tillie tells her.

Perhaps her friend Frances, also a peace camp veteran (well a day-visitor) can help. An out-of-work actress, Frances is down and out and turns to burlesque for a come-back and succeeds in getting Hilary to give it a try too.

Meanwhile, despite all Frances’ efforts to hook a man, it’s Hilary they’re sniffing round.

Jumpy was written by April de Angelis who deserves to be better known. When you see Jumpy you will understand why.

Think Alan Bennett with a feminine twist and without the Yorkshire. It’s about a mother-daughter relation, not mother-son, but is every bit as well-observed, sharp and funny. And any mother or daughter will hear herself saying some of these lines.

De Angelis says she was drawn to the subject through her relationship with her own teenage daughter.

It is a play of letting-go and learning to move on to the next stage of life. For Tillie that is university and independence, and for Hilary? Well that is something she has to decide, and if not totally cut and dried by the end of the play, at least we feel she’s started on the journey.

A mixture of wry observation and farcical humour, the critics described this play as wincingly funny and deliciously rude and at times piercingly moving.

It is not just a romp. Even as you laugh you’ll be remembering just how impossible your parents were (aren’t they all?) and maybe feeling sneaking sympathy for the embattled Hilary.

Underneath the humour is a moving story with moments of suspense and pathos. There will be times when you hold your breath, and maybe even shed a tear.

Although this is very much a play about a family relationship, it is a very adult piece, with strong language and brief (don’t blink or you’ll miss it) nudity, so it’s not for children.

Read the full story here.