Initial casting has been announced for the upcoming touring production of Calendar Girls the Musical, written by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth.

The cast includes Tanya Franks (Eastenders) as Annie Clarke, Maureen Nolan (The Nolans) as Ruth, Lyn Paul (The New Seekers) as Jessie, Amy Robbins (Coronation Street) as Chris Harper, Paula Tappenden (Blood Brothers) as Marie, Marti Webb (Tell Me On A Sunday) as Celia, and Honeysuckle Weeks (Foyle’s War) as Cora, who will bare all as the group of ordinary women in a small Yorkshire town who set about creating a nude calendar to raise money for charity. Further casting is to be announced.

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

Tim Firth 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 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.”

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

The tour opens in Windsor on 30 August before visiting Sheffield, Cheltenham, Birmingham, Liverpool, Milton Keynes, Peterborough, Wimbledon, Leeds, Stoke on Trent, Darlington, and Hull, with further venues/dates to be announced.

To book tickets for select touring venues, please click here.