Hannah Waterman replaces Goodyear in Calendar Girls

Hannah Waterman joins the cast of Calendar Girls from 1 Dec 2009 at Noel Coward Theatre

It is reported that former Coronation Street actress Julie Goodyear has been forced to leave the production because of a "debilitating virus".

Hannah Waterman joins a cast that includes Kelly Brook (Celia), Janie Dee (Annie), Helen Lederer, (Marie); Debbie Chazen (Ruth); Arabella Weir (Chris), Jan Leeming (Lady Cravenshire).

The new stage play by Tim Firth, adapted from his own screenplay for the 2003 film, opened at the Noel Coward Theatre on 13 Apr 2009, following previews from 4 Apr, to luke-warm notices from the popular press: THE EVENING STANDARD says, " Heavy-handed production." THE DAILY TELEGRAPH says, "As an evening of theatre this really is, well, pants." THE TIMES says, " It's snappily directed by Hamish McColl." THE GUARDIAN says, "Moderately entertaining."

It is directed by Hamish McColl, designed by Robert Jones, lighting by Malcolm Rippeth, costumes by Emma Williams and music by Steve Parry.

It is produced by David Pugh & Dafydd Rogers in association with Chichester Festival Theatre.

At First Glance it should look like your classic WI Calendar. Jams, cakes, sewing and all that. Except for one tiny thing...the ladies aren't naked, they're nude. A group of extraordinary women, members of a very ordinary Yorkshire WI, persuade one another to pose for a charity calendar with a difference! Overcoming their initial reserve, the friends drop their dressing gowns, modesty spared only by artfully placed cakes, knitting and flower arrangements. Puzzling their husbands, mortifying their children, and riding the wrath of the outraged WI, they spark a global phenomenon. As interest snowballs, the CALENDAR GIRLS find themselves revealing more than they'd ever planned.