"Calendar Girls" by Tim Firth (24-27 Apr 2013)
PosterWhen Annie's husband, John, dies of Leukaemia she and best friend Chris resolve to raise money for a new sofa to replace the incredibly uncomfortable one she has spent many hours sitting on in the hospital waiting room. They persuade four fellow WI members to pose nude with them for an 'Alternative' calendar, with a little help from a hospital porter and amateur photographer, Lawrence. News of the women's charitable venture spreads like wildfire and hordes of press soon descend on the small village of Knapely in the Yorkshire Dales. The Calendar is a success but Chris and Annie's friendship is put to the test under the strain of their new found fame. Based on the true story of eleven WI members who posed nude for a calendar to raise money for the Leukaemia Research Fund
Director's note: As my directing debut for St Michael's Players, I just want to add further thanks to the commitment and trust of my amazing cast and crew. This play is a truly BIG ask! Sincerely hope you enjoy this last chance to see Calendar Girls on the amateur stage |
What they said |
St. Michael's Players struck gold with their latest production, Tim Firth's play 'Calendar Girls'. Most drama groups have problems in casting big productions; even if your lead players are excellent the minor roles may undermine the best efforts of the director, but not so in this case. Every character was nicely judged and one believed in all of them. Of course one could find something negative about this or that to prove one stayed awake, but that would be mean, set against all the pluses of an absorbing evening (even if some of us may have secretly hoped that we would see rather more than we were meant to as the calendar came into being!) |
Programme |
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CastCora (Michelle Tomlinson)
Chris (Jane Atkinson) Annie (Elizabeth Ollier) Jessie (Bryony Wilman) Celia (Madeleine Hazard) Ruth (Anny Hooker) Marie (Sue Darrieulat) Brenda Hulse (Jo Harry) John (Paul Smith) Rod (Alastair Dewar) Lady Cravenshire (Christine Neyman) Lawrence (Marc Pearce) Elaine (Fleur de Henrie) Liam (Chris Hulatt) |
CrewProducer & Director (Adrian Ellis, with special thanks to Jacquetta Pease)
Design (Marc Pearce) Stage Management (Olivia Keetch with Cecilia Coleshaw) Set painting and makeup support (Fleur De Henrie) Costumes (by the cast, with support from Su Browne) Set-build (Marc and Adrian and massive support from Paul Tomkinson, Richard Wade and Marios Papadakis) Prompt (Jo Harry) Business Management (Chris Hulatt) Front of House (Members & Friends of St Michael's Players) |