CURTAIN SET TO RISE ON CALENDAR GIRLS MUSICAL

The Curtain is set to rise on a musical version of a much-loved film and stage play at Storyhouse in Chester as a popular local community theatre company returns to the City for the first time since leaving their base at the former Forum Studio Theatre in the city centre.

Tip Top Productions who spent 13 successful years producing plays at The Forum Studio Theatre in Chester city centre will stage "Calendar Girls The Musical" at Storyhouse from Thursday 21^st - Saturday 23^rd July at 7.30pm. There will also be a Matinee performance at 2.30pm on Friday 22^nd and Saturday 23^rd July.  Most recently, the Wrexham based community theatre company staged a critically acclaimed production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's smash hit musical "CATS" at Theatr Clwyd near Mold.

Written by Tim Firth with music by Take That star Gary Barlow, "Calendar Girls the Musical" is based on the inspirational true story of a group of women, all members of the Women's Institute in a small Yorkshire village who following the death of a much-loved husband, decide to blow away all preconceptions of what it is to be in the WI by doing an artistic nude calendar to raise money for charity. Upturning preconceptions is a dangerous business and none of them expect the emotional and personal ramifications, but gradually, the making of the fabulous and funny calendar brings each woman unexpectedly into flower. 

Since the story of the original "Calendar Girls" was turned in to a record breaking movie back in 2003, it has launched a global phenomenon including a million copycat calendars, a stage play and now a musical and every performance continues to add to the millions already raised for charity and also prove that there is no such thing as an ordinary woman.

Speaking about returning to Chester and taking to the stage at Storyhouse for the first time, Brian Fray, the Chair of Tip Top Productions said "Following the closure of the Forum Theatre last year, where we operated for 13 successful years, it is important for us and our audiences to maintain a presence in Chester. Storyhouse is an exciting opportunity and one we felt we absolutely had to try despite the financial risk involved. We hope that our members and friends come along and support this fabulous production in the hope that we can continue to bring our community theatre to leading venues like this for years to come."

The show will be directed for Tip Top Productions by the company's founder Peter Swingler OBE, assisted by Rhian Lyon and musical director Simon Phillips. 

Speaking about the show Peter said "Reflecting on the countless musicals I have directed including shows such as Cabaret, A Chorus Line, standards like Sound of Music and even the outrageous Priscilla Queen of the Desert I have never tackled such a challenging show as Calendar Girls The Musical. The music from Gary Barlow and Tim Firth’s brilliant script will have audiences laughing and crying. To be successful, we have ensured that the finished product is very much a collaborative work between Musical Director Simon Phillips, co-director Rhian Lyon and myself. 

Peter added, "Following 13 very happy years at the former Chester Gateway Theatre, entertaining audiences at The Forum Studio Theatre, we are absolutely thrilled to be taking to the stage at Storyhouse for the very first time."

​Full details of "Calendar Girls the Musical" can be found at:

www.storyhouse.com 

...where tickets can be booked online.

Pictured - Tip Top's Productions "Calendar Girls" are preparing the "bare all" at Storyhouse in "Calendar Girls the Musical".