We Need To Talk About Brenda
Regional Tour 2025
Who is Brenda?
Good Question... Brenda is a name which Lisa (our protagonist) has given to her diagnosis of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), a condition which the brain reacts negatively to a woman’s hormone fluctuations before her period. Symptoms can include severe mood swings, irritability, depressed mood, anxiety, difficulty in concentrating and feeling overwhelmed. These symptoms are often dismissed or misdiagnosed as conditions such as bipolar or depression.
Unfortunately, it is estimated that 1 in 20 women and AFAB individuals suffer from PMDD, with 34% of those attempting to take their own life during a PMDD episode. This number does not account for missed or misdiagnosis nor women who ovulatory cycle is suppressed by hormonal, chemical or surgical means.
There is no cure, only treatments and, after trying every treatment available, you (the audience) meet Lisa on her way to the last solution - saying goodbye to 'Brenda' permanently by having a hysterectomy.
Behind Brenda
Nichole here. Hello by the way. I wanted to share my personal story, the story that inspired me to write 'We Need To Talk About Brenda'. I'll try not to make it too long so you may be tempted to come and see the show but, I will give you an insight.
My periods started at the age of 12 and looking back, that's when my PMDD started too. I used to have breakdowns in the car about intrusive thoughts I was having, I couldn't control my rage or temper, I would feel depressed, anxious, hopeless, feel like nobody loved me. The list goes on but one thing I can't miss out is the suicidal ideation. Every month, I would feel like I didn't want to be here anymore, like the world would be a better off without me. My mum said this was normal, that I would grow out of it (which obviously I didn't) but 'everyone gets PMS' and so I put up with it...until I started University.
I found that as I got older, my symptoms were getting worse and took up more of my cycle. It was whilst I was at university that I noticed something was wrong. I couldn't concentrate, was asleep too much or couldn't sleep at all. There were times were I slept for nearly 12/13 hours I day. The panic attacks started, to the point where I was getting 3 or 4 a day and, the suicidal ideation intensified, to the point that I was crying to my gran over the phone as I was scared for my own safety.
After that phone call, I booked an appointment and saw a local GP. I would see two more GP's until I saw the one that said 'It's PMS'. I felt relived, heard and hopeful and started on the combined pill prescribed straight away. Three combined pills, two types of antidepressants, one major PMDD episode later, I was being referred to gynaecology for 'severe PMS'.
I remember being in that first appointment and being told that I may have PMS/PMDD. I needed to track three cycles before getting a diagnosis. I tracked them three cycles and eventually, got a diagnosis on PMDD. That was in the April of 2019, and I started medically induced menopause. I was 20.
Menopause was great (ish) until it wasn't. My body had started wearing the medication off about 10 months into treatment, and one of the hormones I was taking as part of my hormone replacement therapy was bringing my PMDD back. My doctors and I tried to keep me in medically induced menopause for as long as they could but time run out. In April of 2021, I was put on the waiting list for surgery. In September, I was put on the emergency list after a very serve episode and in December, I had a bilateral salpingo oophorectomy with full hysterectomy at the age of 23. I was my surgeons youngest ever patient he had done this procedure on.
If it wasn't for surgery, you would not be reading this. If it wasn't for PMDD, the play and the company would cease to exist. In a way, I have a lot to thank PMDD for, including these lovely selfies of me mid episode, a smashed up laundry tub which I threw in a fit of rage and a selfie of me the day after surgery (looking like I had not had surgery).
Meet IAPMD
IAPMD (The International Association for Premenstrual Disorders) was founded in 2013. What started as a small group of individuals navigating life with PMDD has grown into a vital resource, offering support, information, and guidance to those affected by core premenstrual disorders, including Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) and Premenstrual Exacerbation (PME) of underlying conditions.
Since their founding, they have touched the lives of over a million people in nearly 100 countries, fostering a community of hope and resilience. IAPMD’s mission is to create a world where individuals with PMDs not only survive but thrive, offering inspiration and relief through peer support, education, research, and advocacy.
Nichole has been working with IAPMD since 2019, originally coming on board as a Youth Advisory Board Member before joining their Social Media Team. When developing We Need to Talk About Brenda, she knew IAPMD had to be part of the journey. Their work in advocacy and education has been life-changing—not only for Nichole but for countless others navigating the complexities of PMDD. Their support has helped shape Brenda into more than just a performance; it is a platform for awareness, validation, and change.
The Brenda Productions would also like to extend their deepest gratitude to Sandi MacDonald, co-founder and CEO of IAPMD. Sandi’s unwavering dedication to the PMD community has been instrumental in driving awareness, advocacy, and support for those affected. Her leadership and passion continue to inspire, and Brenda is, in many ways, a reflection of the fight for recognition, research, and better care that she and IAPMD have championed.
Why See 'We need to talk about brenda'?
Nichole here again. This is the part where I really sell you the show—where I make you need to be there, where you start rearranging your plans because missing 'We Need to Talk About Brenda' just isn’t an option.
So here goes…
This isn’t just a play. It’s a true, raw, and honest story. It’s the unfiltered experience of living with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), a condition that has shaped my life in ways I never imagined.
'We Need to Talk About Brenda' takes you inside the mind and heart of someone forced to make life-altering decisions at the age of 23, struggling to navigate a world that doesn’t understand PMDD. It’s emotional, it’s powerful, and it’s a story you won’t forget.
This is for anyone who’s ever felt dismissed, anyone who’s ever had to fight to be heard, and anyone who believes in the power of theatre to start real conversations.
You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and when the show ends, you’ll leave with a new understanding of PMDD and the strength it takes to live with it. And when everyone’s talking about Brenda—trust me, they will be—you’ll be the one who gets to say, I was there.
Don’t miss it.
Running Time: Approximately 1 hour
Accessibility
The six venues—The Hub, The Bureau, The Gregson, Blue Orange Theatre, Seven Arts Leeds, and Salford Arts Centre—all offer wheelchair accessibility. They feature accessible entrances, toilets, and support for special requirements, such as companion tickets and assistance with seating. Venues like The Gregson and Seven Arts Leeds are also dog-friendly, and most have options for quieter spaces and earplugs during performances. For more information on specific accessibility features, please contact each venue directly.