Grown Up Girls Guide - Stantonbury Theatre

Grown Up Girls Guide is exactly that: if you could go back and give yourself advice to avoid making mistakes along the way, would you?

Kath is a hairdresser who loves her salon. It is her life. Like everyone, she has made mistakes along the way, but today is her husband's funeral and it is making her reflect on the choices she has made. Was she a good wife? Was he the right husband? Should she have made different decisions? These are grown-up girl questions, and they are questions many of us would love the answers to.

Kath is played by Cathy McManamon, who absolutely carries the show in the palm of her hand. She sings beautifully, performing a collection of songs that are familiar and loved by audiences.Kath is joined by her friends and sister, who have helped her throughout her life's journey. They are all there for her today, even if her mother refuses to attend the funeral.

Anne is quiet, shy and reserved, and she is also a lesbian. When she told Kath years ago, Kath's response was: "Well, that's nice, but please don't cut off all your hair. It wouldn't be a good look for you." That simple acceptance changed Anne's life. After her parents threw her out, Anne found acceptance, safety and a sense of home among her friends. Anne is played by Debbie Leonard, who gives an excellent performance.

Lynn is Kath's younger sister. She talks a hundred miles an hour and is a single parent, but she also feels responsible for looking after both her mother and Kath. As a mental health worker, helping people comes naturally to her. Alexandra Kent is outstanding in the role. Lynn came across as particularly relatable, although that may be because she was the character I identified with most.

Terry is the loud and outgoing friend. She always wants to hear the latest gossip and is never shy about helping her friends make decisions, whether they ask for it or not. We all know a Terry. Her heart is in the right place and she genuinely wants to help. I absolutely adored the dance number where she tries to teach her friends to dance, especially as Anne clearly cannot dance, and I say that with affection. Terry does not let men get too close to her and is currently dating a married man because it avoids real commitment. That whirlwind of a friend is played by Amanda Booth, who is superb in the role. She made me laugh out loud when demonstrating how to wear Dr Whites!

These women need each other to survive. They have been there through the good times and will continue to support one another through the bad.

The show features some fantastic musical numbers, including I Will Survive, Memories, Disco Inferno and Making Your Mind Up. I loved the set design and would very much like to take the pink telephone box home with me.

Another fantastic play from Louise Roche, the author of Girls Night and Girls Night: The Reunion. Roche has a real talent for creating characters who feel authentic and relatable, drawing the audience into their lives and making us genuinely care about their journeys. I especially enjoyed the flashback scenes, which helped us understand how these women became the people they are today. By revealing key moments from their past, the story allows us to appreciate just how far they have come and why their friendships remain so important.

Grown Up Girls Guide is at Stantonbury Theatre for two more performances on Saturday 17 October.