Calendar Girls at The Lowry 2024

The girls are back at the Lowry and continuing to deliver laughter, joy, and a touching tale that will guarantee to bring a tear to your eye! I am of course talking about the uplifting and heart-warming production of Calendar Girls The Musical", which continues to celebrate the extraordinary story of a group of Yorkshire women.

Inspired by the true story, Gary Barlow and Tim Firth created a musical that follows a group of women from a small Yorkshire Women’s Institute who, spurred by the loss of a beloved husband, embark on the unconventional journey of creating a nude calendar to raise funds for charity. 

The emotional and personal ramifications they face bring each woman unexpectedly into flower, challenging preconceptions and proving that there is no such thing as an “ordinary” woman.

The musical features a stellar cast, including Laurie Brett, Liz Carney, Maureen Nolan, Lyn Paul, Helen Pearson, Samantha Seager, and Honeysuckle Weeks. Laurie Brett (Eastendersand Waterloo Road), Lyn Paul (New Seekers) and Honeysuckle Weeks (Foyles War) particularly stand out in this cast, breathing life into their characters, turning preconceptions upside down and taking us through a rollercoaster of emotions, particularly Brett and Weeks. 

The standout moments, includes the hysterical and cleverly choreographed nude photoshoot scene, showcase the casts dedication to bring authenticity and humour to the stage and particularly Maureen Nolan looks like she is having much fun in this scene, as her character requires a bit of liquid courage as she preps for her photo.

I found the packed house to be a difficult audience to impress, despite the hard efforts of the cast. It is true the show, doesnt rely on complicated sets, lavish dance routines, or show-stopping tunes and perhaps this meant the audience needed warming up to the production, because at the end the cast received a deservingly standing ovation, a true acknowledgement to the heart and care this production relies on.

The story remains timeless, and the overall experience is a delightful blend of laughter and poignant moments. Just remember to travel and experience this production with the cast by enjoying the comedic moments and reach out with love.

Details and tickets 

Dean Thomas-Lowde for Canal St Media

Published: 17-Jan-2024 (7359)