Lowry Calender Girls Press Night

The award-winning musical comedy Calendar Girls, created by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth is now ready to take to the stage at The Lowry. Be prepared for crying with both tears and laughter.

Having toured around the UK for majority of this year, it’s now Salford’s turn to be delighted by the hit show ‘Calendar Girls’- based from the story that began in Yorkshire, 1998 when Angela Baker clubbed together friends to create a calendar for charity after losing her husband John to cancer.

5 years later, this story was told in film with stars including Helen Mirren and Julie Walters getting nominated for awards at the likes of the Golden Globes and the Satellite awards.

15 years from that and Gary Barlow and Tim Firth have put together their expertise to create a musical and comedy delight.

The story follows the plot of the film with a group of older women all coming together to create the charity calendar. However it’s not easy, as many of the characters face their own personal reasons for being anxious.

Star of the show, TV presenter Fern Britton said: “This is an incredibly human story. Life is all about loss, love, making a mess, making mistakes, clearing it up and atoning. It is a terribly hackneyed phrase, but our show is life affirming.”

The show is host to many more famous faces, some of which are experiencing performing musical theatre for the first time.

Denise Welch, who recently returned to ‘Loose Women’ after a five year absence said: “It is about friendship and community and I think we all relate to that.

“Celia, my character, has been off as an air hostess and has always been looking for something more. When she comes back she realises that it was already there. As we get older we all realise that.”

The show’s official launch event was held on Tuesday night, with stars from all over Manchester coming out to welcome the new show.

The night also saw original Calendar Girls take to the blue carpet, nearly two decades on from the original calendar’s release.

Local celebrities, including Coronation Street actor Alexandra Mardell and Inspiral Carpets star Clint Boon, were joined by members of the original Calendar Girls.

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The show has received raving reviews from across all media with The Telegraph and The Mirror being among the critics to give it a five star review.

Calendar Girls is at The Lowry from 30th October to 10th November before taking off to Stoke-On-Trent for another leg of the tour.

Images: Nathan Cox

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