Things I wish I'd bloody known - Menopaus'ull Play

Things I wish I'd bloody known is at the Donald Roy Theatre, Gulbenkian Centre, University of Hull on Thursday 23 October and Friday 24 October. It's a new play about menopause, written by Dr Sarah Jane Dickenson and directed by Dr Lucy Fielding, with Allison Saxton and Jessica Duffield on stage.

The story follows 'The Girls', a close-knit group who grew up together on a Hull estate and are now navigating the challenges of menopause. It's a local story, and that's because the script comes from real voices: it draws on stories shared by women at the project's creative workshops, which ranged from pottery and art classes to creative writing and alpaca walking. The whole thing is the culmination of a two-year collaboration between the University of Hull and the local charity Neighbourhood Network, through their Menopaus'ull Support Network project, which looks at women's lived experiences of menopause through research, creativity and community engagement.

There's a bit more to it than just the stage show. The project's findings have wider implications for healthcare and policy, with many women reporting inconsistent medical support and a lack of awareness among healthcare professionals. The production itself was funded by The Ideas Fund, with support from the Wellcome Trust and delivery by the British Science Association.

It runs on Thursday 23 October at 7pm, and on Friday 24 October with a 3pm matinee and a 7pm evening performance, all at the Donald Roy Theatre in the Gulbenkian Centre, University of Hull. Tickets are £5.