This week one of my childhood dreams came true at 48 years old. My Second Act colleague Mariella Frostrup asked me to join her on stage in the West End for her new show Cracking the Menopause - in front of a room full of midlife women, and it was electrifying.
I've always been a huge fan of Mariella, so I was fangirling hard and trying not to pinch myself being on stage with this powerhouse narrator driving through the storytelling of the history of the menopause and how we got here.
Growing up I had always wanted to be a performer. But being a Gen X woman, and now in my 40s, I was told you could be one or the other in that very traditional way. You were either academic or a performer — you can't do both!
What is so delicious is that in my Second Act, here I am getting to be both now and not being judged and that’s very healing.
What I hadn’t expected was my first big performance to be in front of an Oscar winning actress! I was totally fine living out all of my actress fantasies until I saw someone greeting Mariella as she was walking in and I was like "oh my god that’s Cate Blanchett!". I couldn’t bring myself to speak to her - and that is not like me.
What I loved was she just sat amongst this crowd of amazing women all coming together to support one another, have fun and share wisdom about the menopause and what we all - even Hollywood superstars - go through. Many women were even taking notes - there were even some male allies in there, which is so important.
We chatted about everything; the struggle for women getting HRT and testosterone, for those who can’t have HRT, hormones and life balances, how it affects marriages and relationships. It’s a very well written, thoughtful, funny, engaging, bouncy ride of a show which is informative and healing.
I am the voice of different women's experiences of menopause and get to recite funny historical speeches based on the crazy medieval thinkers about how women are just mad. (There was one moment I thought, am I gonna have to do a dodgy Italian accent in front of an Oscar winner? I can't cope. That's when I got nervous.)
Looking back at the historical context of how the menopause and also how our mothers were taught, is one of the funniest parts of the show and also explains why it has never really been talked about until recently.
We asked the audience questions (I’m not sure if any were Cate’s!) which bounced up on a screen. One asked ‘what did your mother tell you about the menopause?' And about 80% of the audience said ‘nothing'.
'There used to be so much fear'
Mariella and Alice Smellie, who she wrote the show with, take up the history of menopause and it’s understandable why our mothers didn’t talk about it. There was so much fear.
It was linked with being hysterical and locked up in an asylum if you go on about it too much. It’s shocking that we are only just dismantling this thread of shame and silence in 2026.
Going through the menopause was a sign that you were over. Your life was over, your sexuality, your desirability, your power was over. And the lie that we were all fed is actually quite shocking because it's often actually the beginning of power. The beginning of choices, the beginning of so many exciting opportunities. And I think this play really speaks to that.
So many different women came up and said they really loved it and connected with it afterwards. There was so much laughter. That also made me really proud. It was just a really good night out, even though there was loads of information it didn't feel lecturey or medical, just a lot of fun.
Cracking the shame and silence too
The thought of actually having a play or performance like this was unheard of even 10 years ago. I think it's a really important piece. You know, it's cracking the menopause, but I also think it's cracking the shame and the silence.
It was a very, very proud moment for me. Being on stage, being part of that production, but also being in a room full of women; it was so healing for everyone involved, to be seen, to be heard.
I'm very lucky to be alive in 2026 and I'm very proud to be part of the Hello Second Act movement. Being part of the Cracking the Menopaue movement is so delicious and we need to spread the message - Bring on Broadway!
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