New cast in Calendar Girls from 3 Nov 3009

New cast in Calendar Girls from 3 Nov 3009

There will be a new cast in Calendar Girls from 3 Nov 2009 at the Noel Coward Theatre.

Julie Goodyear will make her London and legit stage debut starring as 'Cora'. A household name, Julie became a national treasure after starring as 'Bet Lynch' in "Coronation Street" for 25 years. Kelly Brook (Celia), Janie Dee (Annie), Helen Lederer , one of Britian's best-known comediennes, will play 'Marie'; Debbie Chazen (Ruth); Arabella Weir, star of "The Fast Show" and author of "Does My Bum Look Big in This?", will play 'Chris; Jan Leeming (Lady Cravenshire); Rob James Collier, best known as 'Liam Connor' in "Coronation Street", will make his London stage debut as the photographer 'Lawrence'.

The new cast will perform to 9 Jan 2010, the date the show closes at the Noel Coward Theatre, but is expected to open at another West End Theatre as yet unannounced!

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.

Cast to 31 Oct 2009 includes Gemma Atkinson (Elaine), Jill Baker (Annie), June Brown (Jessie), Richenda Carey (Marie), Sara Crowe (Ruth), Anita Dobson (Chris), Jill Halfpenny (Cora), Jerry Hall (Celia), Jack Ryder (Lawrence - the photographer)