Auditions for Calendar Girls take place on Sunday November 13, at the Playhouse in Lourensford Road.
When Annie Clarke’s husband John dies from leukeamia at an early age, her close friend Chris Harper, anxious to purchase a comfortable sofa for the visitors’ lounge in the hospital where he was treated, hits upon the idea of printing a calendar, featuring some of the members of the Knapely branch
of the Women’s Institute (WI) discreetly posing nude while engaged in traditional WI activities, such as baking and knitting, in order to raise funds.
Her proposal initially is met with great skepticism, but she eventually convinces ten women to participate in the project with her. They enlist one of the hospital workers, an amateur photographer named Lawrence, to help them with the concept.
The head of the local WI branch refuses to sanction the calendar, and Chris and Annie go to a national congress of the Women’s Institute in London to plead their case. They are told the final decision rests with the local leader, who grudgingly agrees to the calendar’s sale.
The initial printing quickly sells out, and before long the tiny village is bombarded with members of the international media anxious to report the feel-good story. What follows is quite some drama and some heart-warming fun. The play requires both men and women of a wide variety of ages, and no previous experience is needed.
Under the direction of Darryl Spijkers (Blood Brothers, Wizard of Oz, Steel Magnolias, Grease and more), this promises to be a very special production.
For details, contact Heather at hjferguson@hotmail.co.uk, or visit Carnivals of the Heart on Facebook to get involved.
