Set in the fictional Lancashire town of Hindle, the play was the first to feature a working-class woman as its hero, and scandalised audiences in its treatment of pre-marital sex.

When the working-class Hawthorns find their daughter, mill-girl Fanny, has had a fling in Llandudno with the boss's son, instead of holidaying in Blackpool, both sets of parents expect him to do the decent thing and marry her. But she has other ideas.