Picture: Tony Bartholomew
Calendar Girls was reviewed at Theatre by the Lake, Keswick where it continues until 5 September 2026. The tour continues until 31 October 2026.
Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
It’s become one of the most popular and well-loved musicals of recent times, the story of the Women’s Institute group which created the alternative WI calendar in memory of a member’s husband. The calendar raised more than £6 million for charity and inspired the 2003 hit film, the 2008 play, and then the musical version in 2015.
So is there anything new and fresh about Calendar Girls now? Absolutely, in this fabulous production directed by Paul Robinson performed in the round.
Cast members not only skilfully act and sing but provide the musical accompaniment to the rousing and moving songs written and composed by Tim Firth and Gary Barlow.
Chris (Karen Holmes) and Annie (Christina Meehan) lead a cast of talented women, each telling their story and discovering a bond that they may not have anticipated.
The supporting cast of Thomas Donnan (Danny), Leah Montgomery (Jenny) and Sol Taibi (Tommo) also provide priceless comedy moments and remind us that parents have a lot to answer for! All of the cast members deserve the standing ovation that followed.
And that ovation brought an emotional response from the theatre who said later: ‘To our brilliant audience… thank you. Thank you for embracing the warmth, joy, laughter and heart of this beautiful show, and for giving every single person who brought it to the stage such an extraordinary response.’
And we echo every word. All in all Knapely WI and the community (young and old) that surrounds it is brilliantly and beautifully portrayed; empowering, uplifting with tears and belly laughs abounding, this production is anything but conventional. This is a five-star show which needs to be seen.
Sarah Jones
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