Acclaimed British TV creator Sally Wainwright has launched a new series, Riot Women, exploring menopause through the lens of a punk band formed by middle-aged women in Yorkshire. Drawing from her personal experiences, Wainwright aims to uplift discussions around the challenges of aging. The show challenges stereotypes by portraying menopausal women as rebellious and expressive.
Sally Wainwright, known for creating hit series such as Happy Valley and Last Tango in Halifax, introduces Riot Women, a drama centered on a group of women in Yorkshire navigating the trials of menopause. These include hot flashes, mood swings, and a sense of invisibility, alongside issues with unreliable men and family tensions. Rather than turning to therapy or meditation, the characters channel their frustrations into forming a punk band.
Wainwright began developing the series about 10 years ago, around age 50, amid personal upheavals. At the time, she was caring for her mother who was developing dementia, managing a demanding career, raising two teenage sons, and dealing with a strained marriage while entering menopause herself. Now 62, she recalls, “You suddenly feel that you're disappearing because these things are kicking in and I didn't really know why. I didn't know what menopause was.”
She notes that women often shy away from discussing menopause to avoid seeming negative. Wainwright sought to craft an uplifting narrative, stating, “I wanted to write a show about [menopause] that wasn't moany, but that was actually quite uplifting.” The punk band format, which she had long wanted to explore, became the perfect outlet for the women's anger and creativity.
When a friend dismissed the idea of middle-aged women in punk—arguing the genre embodies youth and rebellion—Wainwright countered, “What's more angry than menopausal women?” The series focuses on the women composing songs about their grievances, aligning with punk's ethos of raw expression.
Wainwright hopes Riot Women will normalize deeper conversations about menopause beyond superficial jokes. She emphasizes the therapeutic value of creative pursuits at any age: “It's great to be in a space where you can express what you feel and it’s valid, it has a value that other people appreciate.” She encourages viewers to try similar outlets, adding, “I think it would be great if women did watch [Riot Women] and think, oh, I'm going to have a go at that, because it's great fun and it can be great therapy.”