WHAT causes women of a certain age to suffer hot flushes, night sweats, raging hormones and mood swings as predictable as the British weather? No, it’s not watching Tom Hardy on the telly - it’s the menopause.

Rather than complain about it, writer Jeanie Linders decided to turn this change-of-life experience into a fun-filled theatrical experience.

Menopause The Musical debuted in 2001 in a 76-seat Orlando theatre that once housed a perfume shop. Set against a lingerie shopping expedition, a cast of four women sang about chocolate cravings, hot flushes, memory loss, cold sweats, chocolate binges and sexual predicaments, parodying baby-boomer hits including Stayin' Awake and Puff, My God I'm Draggin'. The musical comedy blew the lid off "the change", with women flocking to see it.

Now it's heading for Bradford. Starring Cheryl Fergison (EastEnders' Heather Trott), Maureen Nolan, Casualty star Rebecca Wheatley and Ruth Berkeley, the show brings together four women at a department store sale, who on first appearance have nothing in common. But the sale of a black lace bra stimulates comical heart-to-hearts.

“This show simply had to be made," says Cheryl. "It tells you it’s okay to talk about the menopause. Until you do, you have no idea it’s such a big thing.

“Suddenly I’m sprouting a moustache - I could do Movember! I’ve never been one for creams, but I’m looking at them now and thinking ‘Is this going to make me firmer?'

"There are songs about the inevitability of your body shape changing. And I love that it shows how the menopause makes you emotional. I’m not an emotional person but now I'm tearing up, all the time...”

Maureen Nolan adds: “It doesn’t make light of the menopause, rather it shows you can tackle the raging hot sweats with humour and honesty. What’s really great is that women come up to you and say ‘Thank you for making it okay to be over 50.’

“And if men come along, they'll understand why their wife, on occasion, has tried to kill them,” she adds, laughing.

"Having a group of women in one hall all able to laugh at the changes women go through is massively uplifting," says Rebecca. "And here’s the thing; the menopause isn’t all bad. By the time they hit it women know so much more about themselves. They have confidence, knowledge and a lovely, healthy cynicism about life.”

“Years ago, I’d be having a blue rinse at this stage, not getting my hair dyed flame red. I want to be a thoroughly disgraceful 50-something.”

* Menopause the Musical is on at the Alhambra on Sunday, April 2 at 4.30pm and 7.30pm. Call (01274) 432000.