This celebration of women and ‘The Change’ arrived breathless and sweating in Brighton on Sunday night.

Four very different middle-aged women; clichés of a housewife, soap opera actress, earth mother and business woman, met in a department store and shared their experiences of the menopause.  

In front of a simple set they presented a series of sketches and 25 humorous songs about hot flushes, memory lapses and sexual predicaments.

The show debuted in a tiny theatre in Florida, USA fifteen years ago and it was still a bit rough around the edges in parts.

Some of the songs worked better than others, for instance, and the production looked like it operated on a tight budget.

The performance also featured a heavy dose of American commercialism with prominent marketing by the event sponsor (a manufacturer of herbal supplements aimed at women), which jarred a little.

However, the four lead’s sense of fun and solidarity was infectious and many of the musical numbers were great.

The audience whooped and laughed in recognition of shared embarrassments throughout the evening.  

At the end, many joined the cast on stage for a final song and dance and the show succeeded in being both empowering and entertaining.