Calendar Girls the Musical – Milton Keynes Theatre and Touring

Picture: Alex Harvey-Brown

Calendar Girls the Musical continues at Milton Keynes Theatre until 21 October 2023 before continuing on tour until 2 December 2023.

Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Tissues at the ready as the emotive and heartwarming musical Calendar Girls takes over at Milton Keynes Theatre this week. The piece is of course based on the popular film (2003) and the real-life story of a group of Women’s Institute (WI) ladies who raised money in the name of their friend’s husband after he sadly passed away from cancer. However, instead of the conventional methods of fundraising, the Yorkshire lasses opted to break the rules and bare all with a nude calendar. Full of laughter and tears this powerful new production, written by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth, will have you hooked from beginning to end.

Aside from the famous writing duo that has created this adaptation of the much-loved story, this current run of Calendar Girls also stars some well-known faces, including Tanya Franks as Annie, Maureen Nolan as Ruth, Amy Robbins as Chris, Paula Tappenden as Marie, Marti Webb as Celia and Honeysuckle Weeks as Cora. Having a cast with such top-notch acting ability makes for an impeccable show, with each performance worthy of a standing ovation. My standout role though was the bubbly and high-on-life Chris, played by Robbins, her stage presence was hard to miss.

Gary McCann’s set design brings the whole show together. Unlike other productions of Calendar Girls, this adaptation – directed by Jonathan O’Boyle – focuses on the inner battles of each woman, from the struggles of a young, single mother to feeling forgotten because of reaching older age – the set allows these stories to blossom. Throughout the show, the stage revolves around the inside of the community hall where the WI meetings are held. Props like a hospital sign or the infamous sofa are manoeuvred onto the stage to show a scene change, but the constant of the community hall looking out on a typical Yorkshire rural landscape symbolises the soul of the story and what connects these women.

Having a live band with musical direction from Jordan Alexander to accompany the show is a real treat and is the icing on an excellent cake, which helps to give warmth and depth to the performances. Some of the songs, particularly ‘So I’ve Had a Little Work Done’, are incredibly funny, but expect the heartstrings to be pulled as well with moving ballads like ‘Time Passing’.

Although this show will be a hit with women, it’s not just for the girls. It’s ultimately a tale of friendship and union that I believe would be enjoyed by anyone who likes a show with feeling.

Hannah Grimmette