Menopause isn’t the silent taboo it once was. Not only is it openly discussed but it’s the subject of a musical!
Jeanie Linders, championing women’s voices through comedy and theatre, created Menopause The Musical more than 24 years ago and has since been seen by over 17 million people across 17 countries.
There’s no real plot. Instead, the production reworks familiar tunes into parody songs, blending original lyrics with classic melodies to cover the many challenges women face during the ‘change’. From hot flushes to memory loss and night sweats, the show delves into the terrors of ageing through comedic relief, including a little skit where the characters squint at the menu, fumbling for their glasses or brighter light.
Who knew estrogen and HRT could be hilarious numbers? Hot Stuff, reimagined to tackle night sweats, clearly resonates with audience members, based on theatre-goers’ chuckles, nodding, and seeing themselves in the lyrics. Each satirical rewrite earns big laughs, with every rendition perfectly paired to a particular symptom. No spoiler but Tina Turner’s What’s Love Got To Do With It? couldn’t be better matched to a certain tool.
Bringing stereotypes to life, the show stars Tara Morice as a professional woman (Strictly Ballroom); Erika Heynatz as a glamourous soap star (host of Australia’s Next Top Model); Melissa Langton as the happy housewife (Les Misérables, Jesus Christ Superstar) and Cherine Peck as the earth mother (Mary Poppins, The Lion King). After more than two decades delighting audiences worldwide, this fresh take continues to bring sparkle and humour to the story. Produced by SK Entertainment, this new production is directed and choreographed by Cameron Mitchell.
The action unfolds in a ladies’ department store, but the vibe is closer to a rock-pop concert complete with fluorescent strobe lighting. Set design by Frances Story cleverly positions the band above the stage and transforms dressing rooms into toilet stalls for dramatic entrances. Christine Mutton’s costumes add to the fun, shifting from black sparkly dresses to cheeky moments in pyjamas and slippers.
It’s a little silly, but also a playful night out and an opportunity to giggle at moments that make womanhood difficult. Women who have experienced or are experiencing menopause should absolutely go see this show. It’s a light-hearted acknowledgment of women and a subject women can connect with, laughing together knowing they aren’t alone.
“Most women know intuitively that every other woman is experiencing memory loss, night sweats, or hot flushes but when they are in a theatre with hundreds of women – not just a few sympathetic friends – and all are laughing and shouting ‘that’s me’ then they know what they are experiencing is normal. They aren’t crazy. It becomes a sisterhood.”
Jeanie Linders, Playwright
There were a few men in the audience, clearly there in support of the women in their lives. Good on them—but this is very much a musical for women. It’s a celebration of womanhood, of sisterhood and of solidarity. The changes of this transformative stage of life are so extreme that perhaps the best medicine is laughter, a sentiment the audience embraces, and by the end of the show, the entire theatre is standing up, singing along for the show’s finale.
Running for 90 minutes (no interval).
3.5 stars
Presented by Sam Klingner for SK Entertainment, Menopause The Musical is playing at State Theatre, Sydney, until 5 October, 2025
For tickets visit Menopause The Musical
Looking for a pre or post-show bite? Bambini Trust and Babylon are located close by. For more suggestions, check out Bites & Sips.
BACCHUS AT THE THEATRE 
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