A funny and heart-warming tale of female friendship and courage in the face of life’s challenges

It’s the familiar story from the major hit film Calendar Girls – a heartwarming account of a group of women in a quaint Women’s Institute nestled in the Yorkshire Dales. Following the passing of one member’s husband and with the desire to fundraise for the hospital that supported him, they embarked on an unprecedented venture: creating a nude calendar. Naturally this ruffles a few feathers ruffled within the W.I. group, challenging the old traditions and making way for a new era of female empowerment. 

I thought I knew all there was to know about the Calendar Girls story, but I felt like the musical dug deep into the ladies motivations, histories, and vulnerabilities. They all had their own struggles, and tackled some hard hitting topics like body image, alcoholism, ageing and a woman’s place in society. Throughout it all they kept the humour at the forefront, and I felt truly connected to the ladies as they navigated their lives together.

With simplicity in set design, the focus is on people and community, emphasising the tight bond among the ladies. Each lady has her moment to shine through a solo song, such as Celia’s witty “So I’ve Had A Little Work Done” performed by Marti Webb, tackling the way we view our bodies and how important it is to feel comfortable in our own skin. Tanya Franks gave a standout performance as recently widowed Annie adds a heartbreakingly relatable dimension to everyday grief challenges. Her best friend provides a cheeky comic relief being the alternative face of the stuffy W.I. Lyn Paul, in the role of retired teacher Jessie effortlessly defies age and professional stereotypes. Jessie’s solo “What Age Expects” analyses the way society treats women as we age. I think we can all relate to one if not all of the women’s stories in a way, that’s what makes the show feel very special and unique. Although a lot of the subject matter is serious, it’s handled in a true northern way with a dry wit and a laugh. 

My hat goes off to all the ladies for getting their kit off on stage to re-create the infamous nude photos – sticky buns included! It was perfectly done with amazing timing from the crew & cast to not show too much, but just enough to bring the story together. 

There’s much more to this funny and cheeky story than I first thought. The characters are complex and the story is deeply moving. Even if you have seen the film, the musical is well worth venturing out into the cold for. At the final curtain the ladies all come out with sunflowers, the favorite flower of John, Annie’s late husband, it perfectly ends the incredibly uplifting and very funny story.