Woman in Mind – Sunderland Empire

Writer: Sir Alan Ayckbourn

Director: Michael Longhurst

The night belongs to two stars – or should that be three, as the writer of this amazing play must not be forgotten. Sheridan Smith superbly stars as Susan and Romesh Ranganathan romps along as Dr Bill, together with the awesome writing of Sir Alan Ayckbourn. This combination makes for an unforgettable evening as Woman in Mind is brought to life at the Sunderland Empire.

Woman in Mind began its life in 1985 premiering in-the-round at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough. It later transferred to a proscenium arch staging for the West End. Ayckbourn states that he “wanted to take the audience inside a mind that was being overthrown”. With Woman in Mind he has certainly done that.

This production is a revival directed by Michael Longhurst as it celebrates it’s 40th anniversary. The play follows Susan, a downtrodden wife who is unloved and unappreciated by her husband Gerald (Tim McMullan) and the rest of her family. Her sister in law Muriel, understudied tonight by Katie Buchholz, and son Rick (Taylor Uttley). She is slowly losing her mind and the play follows her through her turmoil which begins with hitting her head on a garden rake. She then begins to spin out of control as she creates a perfect imaginary family who love and appreciate her. This imaginary family become more and more real that when they begin to blend together things don’t end well.

The action is seen purely through the eyes of Susan. As the play opens, we see Susan lying prostrate in the garden having being knocked unconscious by the garden rake. The floral safety curtain creates the backdrop. This is then raised slightly and Susan’s imaginary family crawl under it to join her front stage. This seemed a little too static and hindered the flow. Maybe it should have been raised higher or even completely from the start. When it is raised fully we see a vastly overgrown garden (or was it a forest?).

This reviewer recalls seeing the original production and the setting being domestic with the imaginary family scenario being played out in the background. Bringing it to the foreground did mean we were more immersed in the action so in that respect it did work.

Smith’s performance is superb – very bubbly yet very intense, with a disturbed confusion as she slips between reality and imaginary. She is never off stage throughout the play. A marathon of a part for any actor but being in the hands of such a brilliant and capable actor like Smith it was a triumphant performance.

This was Ranganathan’s debut into the world of acting and what a performance. His comic timing is outstanding, although he does overplay the comedy at times. His first stumble over the rockery was very pointed. He had the audience eating out of the palm of his hands, however, as laugher emerged every time he walked on stage. Another triumph and your reviewer is sure we will be seeing more performances from him in the future.

Tim McMullan gives a believable performance as Susan’s patronising and self centred husband. Katie Buchholz, as the sister-in-law, portrays grumpiness in bucket loads and her cooking skills too are not to be admired by all accounts. Taylor Uttley, the estranged son, bounces on in Act 2. A lovely cameo role to complete the real family.

The imaginary family consists of an over amorous husband played by Chris Jenks. And like the champagne, a bubbly, effervescent daughter (Safia Oakley-Green) and a caring brother (Sule Rimi). This completes Susan’s ideal family but even they eventually frustrate her and she spirals out of control as the play reaches it’s climax.

The whole cast deserved the standing ovation they received as the play ended. And who can forget the heartfelt, heart breaking plea from Susan with her final words, “December bee. December bee” ( Remember me, Remember me). We certainly will remember you. What a performance and one not to be missed from the pen of the master Sir Alan Ayckbourn.

Runs until Saturday 7th March 2026