By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK? ***1/2

WHEN? Friday 12 December, opens 6 January and runs through 28 February 2026 and then to Sunderland Empire and Glasgow Theatre Royal RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Patsy Cline’s Crazy and Jamiroquai‘s Virtual Insanity play immediately before curtain up to establish the mood as we enter the mind of Susan played by national treasure Sheridan Smith (Opening Night, Gielgud Theatre).

• Read on for reasons including how Smith brings the warmth and humanity she is renowned for to some still topical material

Woman In Mind is considered 1 of author Alan Ayckbourn’s most personal plays and reflects on the mental unravelling of its central character who sees for the audience both real and imaginary characters.

Astonishingly this is the 1st Ayckbourn in the West End since 2016 because in the 80s his work was impossible to miss in London and Scarborough as well as on radio and TV.

Woman is less pre-occupied with class and marriage than many of Ayckbourn’s biggest hits and Smith steps into shoes previously worn by Julia McKenzie in London, Stockard Channing (Elektra, Duke Of York’s Theatre) on Broadway and Janie Dee (Fallen Angels, Donmar Warehouse).

What we love about Smith is that she brings an everywoman quality to each part she plays and even when things look bleak for Susan there’s an Eric Morecambe-esque hitch of the dress and twitch of the groin to signal that she’s lost none of her desire.

Romesh Ranganathan opens proceedings as Bill, Susan’s doctor, and starts talking gibberish as we’re led to believe we’re in Susan’s imagination and she thinks she’s returning to consciousness after being knocked out by a garden rake.

Later we meet Susan’s husband who’s lost interest in her, her self-centred sister-in-law, played by a delightful Louise Brearley (Husbands And Sons, National Theatre), and a son who joined a cult that forbid him to speak to his parents.

Much of Ayckbourn’s work is thought autobiographical and Woman is believed to have been inspired by his own mother’s breakdown in the 50s and relationship with his son.

Mental health would have been challenging subject matter when Woman opened in London at the nearby Vaudeville Theatre in 1986 but is better understood now although still represents a tough watch for Smith’s core and sizeable fanbase of which we consider ourselves a part.

Her Shirley Valentine at this very venue almost 3 years ago was perhaps Smith understanding her audience best and giving it exactly what it wanted from her.

Last year’s Rufus Wainwright musical Opening Night was Smith springing the unexpected.

Her performance in Woman In Mind is, at times, a difficult watch because of the sensitive subject matter but, as always, she brings the warmth and humanity she is renowned for to some still topical material.

• Main pictures via Facebook courtesy ATG Tickets
• Have you seen a Sheridan Smith show before and what did you think of this 1? Let us know what you thought in the comments below
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