The trials and challenges of the perimenopause take centre stage in a writer’s debut play.
Fresh Knickers (and a Gin and Tonic) follows the story of Cheryl and her lifelong friend, Sandra, as they navigate the ups and downs of the perimenopause while their husbands try to make sense of it all from the safe haven of the pub.
But far from an emotional drama, the play is a hilarious musical comedy which takes the audience on an uproarious journey of self-discovery.
Playwright Heather Davis had a successful career as Head of Performing Arts at a secondary school before becoming a freelance theatre director, choreographer and playwright.
She was mentored by Ryan McBryde at the Mercury Theatre in Colchester who advised her to write what she knew about.
And thanks to public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England, the germ of an idea became a reality.
Heather, 58, of Great Totham, said: “There has been lots written about the perimenopause but a lot of it has been quite miserable.
“I thought ‘Let’s see if we can empower women and start a conversation’. I am a big fan of comedy and I wanted to make it entertaining.”
The play takes a cheeky nod to the classic panto Cinderella but in Fresh Knickers, Cheryl has to complete office chores and survive a messy spa day before she can make it to the ball.
The humorous journey explores the physical and emotional changes caused by the perimenopause as well as the need for support and solidarity.
Heather’s original idea was to have one song in the play but it evolved into a musical after she met Colchester composer Georgina St George and it now includes a rapping lifestyle guru, Fuzzy B, in a collaboration described by Heather as “amazing”.
Backing tracks and songs have also been mixed and recorded at Colchester’s Black Cactus Studio in readiness for the tour.
Heather added: “There has been some good work done by various organisations and celebrities such as Davina McCall and Lisa Snowdon in raising the profile of the perimenopause.
“Before then, it was just not discussed. The play is educational because we talk about the symptoms and the social implications but at the end, it is optimistic. I wanted to empower women and highlight social issues around the topic but in a fun way.”
The play has been supported by funding from Arts Council England and Heather will also be offering an outreach programme which includes creative workshops in the community to inform others about the effects of menopause.
Fresh Knickers (and a Gin and Tonic) will open at the Headgate Theatre in Colchester on September 15 with a second show on September 16.
A post show talk is being staged at the Headgate Theatre on September 17 before the play moves on to Chelmsford Theatre on September 18 and then the Gallery Studio in Ipswich on September 19. After a short break, it moves to the Drayton Arts Theatre in London on October 5 and 6.
