Menopause might seem to be an unlikely topic for a piece of theatre, which is exactly the point of Mid Life. This spotlights the over 50s ‘forgotten’ women in a society that champions youth, particularly for women. Clinging to the idea of youth is encouraged in society: grey hair is old, you should dye it; wrinkles should be filled with cosmetics; here are this that and the other products or clothes that make you look younger. Young women are leads in mainstream films whereas men can be all sorts of ages. And menopause? That should definitely not be talked about.
How refreshing then to find a show that does just that, around the premise of Claire Hodgson celebrating her fiftieth birthday and wanting to put on a one woman show. Claire wants a party to show off her disco dance moves as she was a champion in her teens, and she doesn’t want to talk about menopause either at the beginning. But it’s not really a one woman show, as Karen Spicer the audio describer becomes part of the show wanting and needing to be heard, as does the BSL Interpreter Jacqui Beckford, who has finally had enough of being silent and also wants to be heard. They get another BSL Interpreter: Ali Gordon, ‘from the audience’ to carry on interpreting while Jacqui joins the show, aided by Judith Jacobs as Empress JJ the DJ. It appears that the wheels have come off, bringing chaos and hilarity with it.
The show uses real women’s stories that make this very relevant and authentic. There are voice overs at points with women talking about their experiences, which is the foundation of the piece. The five actors although playing their namesakes “are representatives of a world of women” as the programme states, showing the similar experiences of women from all cultural backgrounds; from a privileged middle class background or a working class one, to the whole myriad of differences that make people individual. A light is shone is on the Western idea of medicating menopause and treating it as a disease or something that needs to be endured. Karen gives a hilarious example of her own brain fog, and many women in the audience were laughing and nodding in agreement and recognition.
The show moves deftly between incredibly funny moments and those of poignancy and inward reflection. It does this with such ease it’s almost a showcase. There are many really funny moments and other times with striking visuals behind the stories which are sometimes a really uncomfortable watch: there are some of rotting fruit, and it’s not clear why; whereas the ones of different women add authenticity and depth. The creators have made this show incredibly accessible, with a Visual Journey handout, projection of the lines on the stage as they are being said, audio describing, and the lovely touch with both BSL interpreters actually being part of the action and moving with the actors rather than standing to the side. An especially brilliant moment is Jacqui swearing in sign at Claire which is not spoken: really guffaw funny.
There is an interesting moment where they talk about their childhoods, and the lost childhoods of many people brought up in the 60s and 70s. Lost because of caring responsibilities, through mental health crises, through losing a parent through death or divorce. This loss of self has a fascinating symmetry with the menopause: the experience many women have of dampening down their feelings because of the roles they have, leading to feelings of isolation, invisibility and invalidation. This section unfortunately ended very quickly, replaced by a very sentimental view of mothers doing the best they can.
Empowerment of women is a strong theme throughout: allowing themselves to be angry, to call out conscious or unconscious bias wherever it is, and “I am not going to dull my shine any more”: which is a joyous rousing cry. This is a piece of theatre which encourages the conversation about menopause and shows through the show and the audience the connections that exist rather than the separation, the commonalities that everyone faces rather than feeling so isolated. For over 50s women there is suddenly a feeling of community, and visibility. This is a hilarious, poignant, show about real women: a joyful celebration of being fully yourself.
Brighton Dome Studio Theatre, 6 March 2025
Mid Life runs until Sat 8 March
Photos credit: Dom Moore
