m+ culture | Kindling at park theatre
Five women, one forest and a journey that doesn’t go to plan.
Kindling, the new play from Ladybird Productions at Park Theatre, follows five perimenopausal women who travel to Wales to scatter a friend’s ashes, only to find themselves lost both literally and emotionally. As secrets and rivalries surface, the women are forced to confront the shared realities of midlife, from family and friendship to forgotten HRT.
Written by Sarah Rickman (The Existence Formula), the play stars Rendah Beshoori (EastEnders), Stacey Abalogun (3 Body Problem), Scarlett Alice Johnson (EastEnders), Ciara Pouncett (High Water) and Rickman herself. Directed by Emma Caplan, it forms part of Ladybird Productions’ mission to put women over 35 at the centre of their stories.
Alongside the performances, Park Theatre will host a series of post-show conversations on menopause and midlife wellbeing. Highlights include Holding Space with Rosemary Burch (28 October), Making Menopause Matter with campaigners Claire Phipps (6 November) and Diane Danzebrink (14 November), plus No Filter: Conversations About Menopause and Cancer with Dani Barrington (10 November).
With humour and honesty, Kindling explores how women evolve through grief, change and connection — proving that midlife, so often overlooked on stage, still holds enormous power.
If you’re looking for something different to do this week, there’s a Parent and Baby performance on Wednesday 30 October at 11 am — a rare opportunity to enjoy live theatre with your little one.
Running until 15 November at Park90, Kindling brings heart, wit and a dose of midlife honesty to the stage.
Book tickets at parktheatre.co.uk