Freedom! The noise! Friendship! ‘Riot Women’ appeals to all ages and genders
Warning: This article contains talk about suicidal ideation.
There comes a point for many of us when the polite encounter with the wallpaper becomes annoying and tiring, we can just give up and go home or burst out in style. For five wild and intelligent women, Riot blow-up of dynamite proportions involving a global revolution: punk rock (or ‘PUNK RAWWWWK!’ if you’re so inclined).
Although the five Riot Women are between the ages of 50 and 60, their stories and individual challenges of feeling unheard and unappreciated, lacking direction, and trying to find friendships beyond school apply to anyone, of any gender, from 18 to over 60.
The series’ tag lines blur “menopausal women” across their headlines, which, while accurate, slows these women down in their fight to show that they are more than the myriad of symptoms common to women over 50. It’s like labeling all teenagers as “hormonal”. Who is not hormonal, all the time, always? About a person! Most interesting, and at the heart of this series, are the ways in which these different women, who have yet to find friendship or creative ways to express themselves, come together against the odds.
In the sleepy suburb of West Yorkshire’s Hebden Bridge, acclaimed author Sally Wainwright brings us her flawed but fearless women. You have a situation, of course, with Happy Valley.
In the opening scenes, Beth (Joanna Scanlan) carefully prepares to hang herself, leaving a note for her son among a collection of family photos on the mantelpiece. Then the phone rings. First is his selfish, aggressive brother. That call ends, satisfyingly, as Beth utters “Asshole!” and hangs up. The second call, which also prevents Beth’s imminent death, is from school friend and local publican, Jess (Lorraine Ashburn). Can Beth join a rock band for charity?
This begins a series of intersecting women’s stories, and finding a sense of purpose and community in each other in a country that continues to feel dominated by men in wars, men taking away women’s autonomy, and men shouting and shaking their fists in parliament rather than talking about social cohesion. The problem with the world, as Jess informs her family over breakfast, is “men”.
A recently retired police officer, Holly (Tamsin Greig) picks up the bass guitar, her energetic and tough sister Yvonne (Amelia Bullmore) reluctantly tags along, and the crazy, ugly Kitty (Rosalie Craig) is hired on vocals.
If there is an argument, it is that these women suffer more from men who cheat, betray, divorce or ignore them. While the middle-aged male audience will probably be happy that they are the impetus for female desperation, the reality for many Australian women is that they thrive on being single, and this choice is on the rise. According to the Australian Bureau of Statisticsapproximately 864,000 single mother households exist. About 1.5 million women live alone, and almost half of all Australian women aged 25 to 44 are expected to be single by 2030, “marking a record high for singleness”.
All of which is to say, the chaotic rock band of all women over 50 has more reasons than the absence of men in their lives to rock, rage and explode without mercy. Still, watching Beth, Holly, Jess, Yvonne, and Kitty use their unruly instruments on their own terms, in their own imperfect DIY way, and reclaim their time, their creativity, and their sense of identity beyond the narrow limits society has placed on them is a lot of fun.
The concept is grounded in reality, so for viewers who are fed up with tumultuous punk tunes and want more, there are plenty of real-life female punk rockers who continue to make soulful, bone-chilling, genre-bending tunes. Take Gina Birch’s 71-year-old former Raincoats bassist’s two albums in the past 3 years, “I Play My Bass Loud” and “Trouble”, both critically acclaimed. Take a handful of Sonic Youth’s solo albums, led by the latest “PLAY ME” by March Gordon, 72 years old. What about former Pixies bass player Kim Deal? The 64-year-old released her debut album “Nobody Likes It More” in 2024, while the 57-year-old Grrrl, Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill, Le Tigre, and The Julie Ruin, is still performing solo and reprising her original bands.
So, between episodes, they’ve created a playlist celebrating real-life riotous women, who prove that punk, love and power aren’t diminished by men or menstruation.
Chaos Women now airing on SBS On Demand.
Students seeking support in difficult situations can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14, Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 and Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (for young people up to 25).
More information and support about mental health is available at beyondblue.org.au and 1300 22 4636.
