Mahala Roberts discusses The Revenge of a Quiet Woman at Etcetera Theatre
After the success of our 2025 Camden Fringe Interviews, we thought it only right to attempt a repeat for 2026. So throughout July we’ll be publishing new interviews each day to give a taste of what to expect from London’s best fringe theatre festival. The festival starts Monday 3 August this year, so we may give ourselves a couple of days off inbetween the end of the interviews and the first shows… then again, we might not.
You can find out more about Camden Fringe, along with details of every show playing this August here. You can also find all of this year’s interviews as they are published here.
For decades, Mahala Roberts was told she was “quiet.” But when menopause arrived, it brought along something entirely unexpected: a midlife crisis with a difference, resulting in a loud, joyful, and creative explosion that could no longer be kept inside!
Heading to the Etcetera Theatre for one night only (25 August) for Camden Fringe 2026, The Revenge of a Quiet Woman is a warm, quirky, and punchy solo comedy show. Combining scintillating character sketches, playful poetry, and themes ranging from cringing to dung beetles and crocodiles, psychiatrist-turned-performer Mahala Roberts proves that midlife is the ultimate time to let go big time.
From onstage costume changes to her beloved Music Hall character Esme, Mahala channels the chaotic magic of female self-expression into an electrifying hour of theatre. We sat down with Mahala to discuss finding her voice after 50, performing for an audience of Yorkshire moorland sheep, and why love will always beat fear.
If you had to describe the vibe of your show in just one sentence, what would it be and how does it manifest on stage?
Mahala Roberts is a fifty-plus woman who, after years of holding it all in, has let it go big time with a creatively explosive menopause; leading to scintillating sketches and punchy poems that will grab you, tickle your fancies, and form a glow worm around your heart!
Why is 2026 the perfect time for this show to be seen?
It is THE year for older women to let their creativity shine BRIGHTLY! I also think the world really needs the central message of the show right now: that love and creativity are bigger than fear, and that expressing yourself matters no matter what.
What was the ‘eureka moment’ that made you realise this story had to be told right now?
I have been writing for two to three years now, and I just felt this overwhelming urge to bring it all together and write a one-woman show. I applied last year to a women’s writing festival, sort of not expecting to get a yes. When I got in, I was a bit shocked! But it turned out to be an amazing experience getting it all together and turning it into a full show. I initially thought I wasn’t ready, but it turned out I definitely was. The show sold out in three weeks and the performance day was magical, electric, and everything I wanted it to be.
Is this version how you originally envisioned it or has it changed drastically since you first put pen to paper?
As I play lots of different characters myself, the main thing I worked on was staying on stage with various inventive costume changes while keeping the audience’s attention in between. I also absolutely LOVE audience interaction, and when I did the initial run, there were some fab bits of unexpected audience connection.
What is it about your character that you most enjoy?
I play all the characters myself, and there is an absolute, huge joy in suddenly thinking of something a character might say or how they might move, and feeling it just click right into place. I’m particularly in love with my character Esme, who is a Music Hall star. When I play her, I really am her through and through. People seem to love her as much as I do, she is so positive, cheery, and a bit saucy!
How challenging has this role been for you?
I love the variety of characters and I love doing lots of different voices.
How important is audience interaction to you?
It is the chemistry, the essence, the very beauty of the show! I absolutely love audience interaction. I just love it when people laugh unexpectedly, or even when they don’t laugh. I adore that amazing chemical reaction and connection that happens in the room.
If you could perform this show anywhere in the world, where would it be?
On the Yorkshire moors with some proper weather, and maybe an audience of sheep, sprites, and faeries.
If your show was a love letter to a specific person?
A love letter to my grandmother, my mother, and to all the women through the ages who dared to follow their own way.
If your show was a drink at the venue bar, what would be the ingredients?
A warm, comforting cuddle of a drink; maybe a Tia Maria on the rocks!
Many thanks to Malaha for the chat. The Revenge of a Quiet Woman plays at Etcetera Theatre on Tuesday 25 August as part of Camden Fringe.
