Calendar Girls the Musical Review at Regent Theatre Stoke on Trent
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Dottie Rood.
Calendar Girls the Musical is based on the play ‘Calendar Girls’ (written by Tim Firth) and the motion picture ‘Calendar Girls’ (written by Tim Firth and Juliett Towhidi) that are ultimately based on a true story of a group of middle-aged Yorkshire women who produced a nude calendar following the death of one of their husbands (John Richard Baker) from non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (a form of blood cancer) at the age of 54 in 1998.
John Richard Baker (played by Colin R Campbell) was an ‘Assistant National Park Officer’ for the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and was obviously well loved by the village he lived in (Rylstone) and his wife Angela, she, along with her friends at the WI decided to produce a ‘Alternative Calendar’ with all money raised going towards research for the causes and treatments of all types of blood cancers. This calendar was created in April 1999, it immediately had a huge impact on the eleven ladies involved and the WI themselves! The year it was launched it sold 88,000 copies and the story was in the National newspaper for 3 weeks. A number of accolades followed plus a film adaptation in 2003, a stage show in 2009 and then in 2012, Gary Barlow and Tim Firth began writing songs for a musical. This show, Calendar Girls the Musical 2023 is the latest tour telling the heart-warming story of these tireless fundraisers.
The set was the hall where the WI meetings are held and the first song (Yorkshire) immediately uplifted the audience with its ‘liveliness’, I was really looking forward to seeing another version of this brilliant true story. The cast, WI ladies: Annie, played by Tanya Franks (Eastenders), Ruth played by Maureen Nolan (The Nolans), Jessie played by Lyn Paul (The new Seekers), Chris played by Amy Robbins (Coronation street), Marie played by Paula Tappenden (Blood Brothers), Celia played by Marti Webb (Evita, Tell me on a Sunday) and Celia played by Honeysuckle Weeks (Foyles war) arrive in dribs and drabs setting the scene of what people think a WI does. The story then unfolds to include John, played by Colin R Campbell and Rod, played by Graham Macduff joining the others in the sad narrative that see’s John sadly dying and Rod being persuaded to be the photographer when the ladies pose nude for their calendar! This was all very tastefully performed with humour and brilliant songs and each of the characters playing their parts really well. I must commend Lyn Paul (Jessie) for her performance of the song, What Age Expects, as this brought me to tears and touched lots of nerves how people of a certain age are sometimes treated. I have seen and read lots about how this calendar came about and always find it emotional, inspiring and uplifting, this performance was no exception. If I had one small negative comment it would be the lack of comment concerning the money the calendar raised for charity, this didn’t ruin any of this performance and I would recommend it if you got chance to go and see it.
The Regent Theatre & Victoria Hall is a lovely theatre with easy parking a good choice of reasonably priced snacks and drinks and very welcome staff.
Rating: 4/5
Tickets cost from: £13.00 to £49.50.
Calendar Girls the Musical is at The Regent Theatre & Victoria Hall, Bagnall Street, Stoke-on-Trent ST13AD.
Performances are From 14th November 2023 to 18th November 2023.
Tickets available from: https://www.atgtickets.com/
Box Office: 01782211204.
https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/calendar-girls-the-musical/regent-theatre/