Gold Coast Calendar Girls Go All The Way

The director and cast of Gold Coast Little Theatre’s production of Calendar Girls, which opens in November, have gone all the way, even getting their gear off for their own ‘nude’ calendar.

Funny, poignant and uplifting, Tim Firth’s Calendar Girls concerns the fundraising effort by a chapter of the UK Women's Institute. The popular and much loved husband of one of the members dies of leukaemia. As a memorial to him, her friends decide on a revolutionary idea of raising money for a local hospital  - by posing nude for a calendar. The fact that the ladies are not, well, as young as they used to be – causes a media sensation that echoes around the globe.

Based on a true story, the movie, starring Helen Mirren and Julie Walters, was a world-wide hit.  The Gold Coast premiere of this heart-warming play is directed by Helen Maden.

When asked why she chose this play, Helen said, "This play actually chose me! The original director and GCLT life member, Marion Parry became ill and asked if I would like to take it on. Marion was a very well respected director and so it's an honour she trusted me with a show she had longed to produce.

“Since Marion’s recent and sad passing, we all want the show to be a huge success in her memory. I remember how Marion and I laughed together after reading the script, wondering ’how on earth do we stage this complicated show?’ From then on, it's been a busy time with rehearsals trying to do just that. We’ve also produced a wonderful ‘nude’calendar to help raise for the Leukaemia Foundation and for the theatre.”

Helen andthe six lead women, (Del Halpin, Dawn China, Laney McLean, Audrey Todd, Jodie Barnes & Lilias Davie) plus the other cast members had great fun posing nude for calendar shots taken by well known photographer Nicola Parsons who generously donated her services for the occasion. Now the ice has been broken, everyone is really excited at the idea of pulling the whole thing off, live on stage.

Apart from lots of belly laughs, Calendar Girls provides a truly enriching experience. The characters are very real, and Helen Maden reminds us, this all actually happened to a group of fabulous, brave women, who embraced their inner beauty for the love of a dear friend.  

Calendar Girls runs at the Gold Coast Little Theatre, 21a Scarborough Street, Southport from 17 November to 8 December 2012. Book with the GCLT box office on 5532 2096 or online at www.gclt.com.au