"Calendar Girls The Play" by Encore Performing Arts.

Duchess Theatre, Long Eaton.

I've seen this show on film, in musical form and of course in play form several times now, but it's only really when you lose someone to cancer that the story takes on a different feeling for you, and becomes almost personal.

When Annie's husband John dies of leukaemia, she and her long-standing best friend Chris resolve to raise money for a new settee in the local hospital waiting room. They eventually persuade four friends and fellow members of the Women’s Institute (W.I.) to pose nude with them for an "alternative" calendar. They are assisted by hospital porter and amateur photographer Lawrence, who looked after John in his final days. This is much to the horror of the their local W.I. chairman, Marie.

The success of the calendar goes beyond their wildest dreams and they have soon raised the money needed and much more. Their efforts also catch the attention of the national and international press, who soon descend on the small village of Knapeley in the Yorkshire Dales. Although the calendar is a huge success, Chris and Annie's friendship though is put to the test by their new-found fame.

Tim Firth’s play is based on the true story of a number of W.I. members who famously posed nude for a calendar to raise money for the Leukaemia Research Fund in 1999.

Lizzie Norris (Annie), Mina Holtom (Chris), Sandy Lane (Cora), Milly Bould (Ruth), Kathryn McAuley (Celia) and Angela Walters (Jessie) are all equally as wonderful to watch, and at times you forget the woman behind the role, such is the strength in their story-telling abilities. I then recognise the comedy, and there's a lot of comedy in the script, and relate that comedy to the actors themselves, who are all fabulous when the make up is removed and they revert to normal life away from the characters and the stage.

 I'm not going to write swathes of adjectives to describe every one of these six ladies' acting prowess; I don't need to, they operate as a team, and they certainly won as a team in this play. And I also take my hat off to you all for baring (nearly) all in front of a live audience. The bravado needed, and the trust shown in the Directors itself, deserves a round of applause. Their humour shines so brightly via Tim Firth's script, and it's a warmth and feminine humour rises to the top.

John is played by Martin Holtom, and there's a lot of dark humour in this role, but the moment when you realise that he has succumbed to leukaemia adds a chill to the air.

Simon Parker plays Rod, Chris' husband, battling through business problems with the floristry.

Lawrence, is the shy photographer who rapidly comes out of his shell when he actually gets behind the camera for the photo shoots, and is played by Kheenan Jones.

Jack Readyhoof is Liam, the person in charge of the shoot for the TV commercial, originally in the film in Hollywood, but in this version, a little closer to home.

Alex Tavener plays Marie, the pompous, and quite pious Knapeley WI leader. Alex is a brilliant character actor and this performance shows just why.

Hayley Wood plays Elaine, the make-up artist drafted in for the TV commercial shoot, Brenda, the guest speaker who arrived to present a talk about broccoli to the WI. as well as Lady Cravenshire, again a smaller role but one with nice comic touches. All three roles are lovely comic parts, something that Hayley does so well.

Co-Directed by Adam Guest and Katie Bird; a dynamic duo indeed, and what a beautiful and powerful piece of theatre they have given us all, even creating a personal and poignant ending that brings the story even closer to home for the cast.

With a show like this one there are quite a variety of props needed; everything from iced buns, knitting needles and music sheets to photographic paraphernalia, broccoli and projectors. The list of props throughout are many and are managed by Katie Bird.

Set Designer is Terry Stevenson with the majority of the set being the hall used by Knapeley WI complete with noticeboard, chair stacks, a piano etc, so you know straight away where the action is taking place. The scene change from indoors to outdoors is achieved by a backdrop showing the Yorkshire Dales.

Stage managed by Emily Owen.

Sound design and operation is by Adam Guest. I've known Adam for well over a decade now and you come to realise that Adam is very passionate, as well as knowledgeable about the music that is used to link scenes. There are some gorgeous pieces of linking incidental music used in this production, and I know from past experience that Adam will search for just the right piece of music to feature for maybe just a 15 - 20 second scene link. 

Lighting Designer and Operator is David Price. A luminary legend of lighting.

Costumes are thanks to Mina Holtom, ranging from easy to wear tracksuits and leisure wear through silky style kimonos and dressing gowns to the very glamorous black dresses.

Encore are supporting two very special charities throughout the run of this production; they always choose an apt charity, or charities to support with every show they do, and this time they are raising money for Treetops Hospice in Derby and Every Cloud, a charity that provide treats for those people affected by cancer so they can have something nice to look forward to with family, friends or just themselves.

They are doing this fundraising in a very novel way; by selling programmes for the show for £5.00. Ah! I hear you cry, that's a bit expensive for a programme, and why is that novel? Well, I'll tell you. The programme is actually a 12-month calendar for 2026, but every month has a picture of the cast members, but they have taken their lead from the show, and all cast members (sorry lads), have been photographed in the nude (not naked) but the photos are all done in the best possible taste. Something to remind you of this show and the wonderful cast for the next 15 months. And a good calendar nowadays will cost you over a tenner, so why not buy two?

If you've never seen the play version of "Calendar Girls", get yourself a ticket. If you have seen the play version of "Calendar Girls", also get yourself a ticket because there is so much warmth in this play, but you'd better hurry because the tickets for the remaining few shows are selling like iced buns with cherries on top!

"Calendar Girls" is at the Duchess Theatre in Long Eaton until Saturday 20 September.