Bill Kenwright Ltd announces the cast for its new production of Calendar Girls the Musical, written by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth including recent stars from Coronation Street and EastEnders (Amy Robbins and Tanya Franks), three recording stars whose hit records have approached nearly 70 million in sales(Lyn Paul with The New Seekers, Maureen Nolan with The Nolans and musical theatre star Marti Webb), the co-star of one of TV’s most popular series of the last twenty years (Honeysuckle Weeks of Foyles War), and Paula Tappenden star of Blood Brothers.
Tanya Franks stars as Annie Clarke, the witty compassionate sidekick, and who’s husband’s illness is the catalyst in this story. She is best known for her role as Rainie Cross in EastEnders, as well as appearing in Family Affairs, Holby City, Doctors, BBC Two mocumentary The Cup, Broadchurch, and many more. She was nominated at the British Comedy Awards in 2009 for her work on Pulling, which gained a BAFTA nomination for best comedy series and won The South Bank Show award for Best Comedy.
Maureen Nolan will star as the big hearted Ruth. She is perhaps best known with her sisters in the singing group The Nolans, who sold more than 30 million records worldwide. She and her sisters also hold the Guinness World Record for the most siblings to play the same role in a musical, as Mrs Johnstone in Blood Brothers. TV credits include The Nolans Go Cruising and At Home with The Nolans. Her stage credits include Stardust (National tour), Girl’s Behind, Mum’s The Word, The Naked Truth, Footloose (National tour), Over the Rainbow – The Eva Cassidy Story (National tour), Menopause the Musical, and several major pantomimes, including at Liverpool Empire, Blackpool Opera House, and the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury.
The tour will continue across 2024, with further dates and casting to be announced.
Calendar Girls follows these extraordinary women in a small Yorkshire Women’s Institute, prompted to create this calendar following the death of a much-loved husband, to raise funds for charity.
But upturning preconceptions is a dangerous business and none of the women are prepared for the emotional and personal ramifications they will face, as the fabulous and funny calendar brings each woman unexpectedly into flower.
The true story of the Calendar Girls launched a global phenomenon: a million copycat calendars, a record-breaking movie, now celebrating 20 years since its release, the fastest-selling stage play in British theatre history, and now a musical written by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth, which coined the term “craughing” – the act of crying and laughing at the same time!
With unforgettable songs, every performance continues to add to the nearly £6 million already raised for charity and prove that there is no such thing as an ordinary woman.
Tour Dates
Liverpool Empire atgtickets.com/liverpool
Tue 10 – Sat 14 Oct 2023
Milton Keynes Theatre atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes
Tue 17 – Sat 21 Oct 2023
New Theatre, Peterborough newtheatre-peterborough.com
Tue 24 – Sat 28 Oct 2023 01733 852992
Wimbledon New Theatre atgtickets.com/wimbledon
Tue 31 Oct – Sat 4 Nov 2023
Leeds Grand Theatre leedsheritagetheatres.com
Tue 07 – Sat 11 Nov 2023 0113 243 0808
Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent atgtickets.com/stoke
Tue 14 – Sat 18 Nov 2023
Darlington Hippodrome darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk
Tue 21 – Sat 25 Nov 2023 01325 405405
Hull New Theatre trch.co.uk
Tue 28 Nov – Sat 2 Dec 2023 0115 989 5555
