Calendar Girls the musical cast revealed for new UK tour

Casting has been announced for the upcoming tour of Calendar Girls the Musical!

With music and lyrics from Gary Barlow and a book from Tim Firth, Calendar Girls (previously titled The Girls) is based on the 2003 film of the same name.

Inspired by a true story, it follows a group of middle-aged Yorkshire women who produced a nude calendar to raise money for Leukaemia Research.

Making up the cast of the new tour are Tanya Franks, Maureen Nolan, Lyn Paul, Amy Robbins, Paula Tappenden, Marti Webb and Honeysuckle Weeks.

This brand new production sees this incredible true story continue to bloom, with a reimagined book and new music bringing the joy to life.

Calendar Girls tour dates, venues and tickets »

Tim Firth, co-writer of the show, said: “Pre-pandemic I had been preparing the musical for a foreign production which was of course then postponed. When the skies cleared and a new production in the UK was proposed I looked back and thought, ‘This is the version we ought to stage’.

“The story and songs, a little like the real world, had been thrown in the air and come back slightly different. What we had in our hands lay somewhere between the original play and the original musical and it seemed right for a time when sunlight, optimism and humour seemed more necessary than ever. Like the calendar itself, it seemed that something dark had created something unexpectedly bright.”

Gary Barlow, co-writer of the show, added: “I am delighted to be working on this new production of Calendar Girls and getting ready for the joy, the laughter, and the nostalgia to take the stage again. It’s been 20 years this year since the film was released, and around 10 years since I first saw Tim’s play with my mum Marjorie.

“We’ve already had a fantastic time in the rehearsal room workshopping the show and weaving in new music, reworked songs and reimagining the book. We cannot wait to see the way these incredible leading ladies bring the story to bloom as we head out on tour later this year.”

Calendar Girls follows these extraordinary women in a small Yorkshire Women’s Institute, prompted to create this calendar following the death of a much-loved husband, to raise funds for charity.

But upturning preconceptions is a dangerous business and none of the women are prepared for the emotional and personal ramifications they will face, as the fabulous and funny calendar brings each woman unexpectedly into flower..

The tour is directed by Jonathan O’Boyle with design by Gary McCann, musical direction by Jordan Alexander and lighting by Nick Richings