The cast of ‘Calendar Girls’ is heading towards a big stage hit as the show moves into the last two weeks of rehearsal. Director Paul Smith is “quietly confident” that Civic Players’ production at Wellington Arts Centre from 4th to 7th September will succeed, especially so as 70% of tickets available for the five performances – including a matinee – are already sold. “Saturday evening is already completely booked out and Friday night is very nearly so,” Paul said.
The stage play by Tim Firth is based on the highly successful 2003 film and follows the true story of a group of Women’s Institute members who defied the staid ‘jam and Jerusalem’ WI image to pose nude for a calendar to raise money for the Leukaemia Research Fund. Their actions attracted huge press and public interest and, as a result, the women found their lives altered in unexpected ways.
The stage play has been in almost continual production in the West End, around the UK and abroad since 2009. Critics have described it as “quirky, poignant and hilarious”.
Civic Players have gathered a fine cast of seasoned performers for the play, all of whom have had, according to the Director, “huge fun” in rehearsals. Now, in the final stage of production, it’s all about getting the props right – and in a play which demands apparent nudity it is particularly important to make sure that cakes, knitting and flower arrangements are all strategically placed! Beyond the more sensational aspects of the narrative, though, there are some very human stories and engaging characters.
Part of the proceeds of the show will go towards Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research. And who knows? Maybe there’ll be a 2014 calendar too!
This is sure to be a very popular hit for Wellington Arts Association, so get your tickets now – online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/wellingtonartscentre or from the Box Office at Wellington Arts Centre@Live.co.uk.