The full cast, and five extra performances, have been announced for Gary Barlow and Tim Firth’s new musical, The Girls, based on the true story, film and award-winning play by Tim Firth, Calendar Girls, premièring at The Lowry.
The cast will be led by Debbie Chazen as Ruth, Sara Kestelman as Jessie, Claire Machin as Cora, Claire Moore as Chris, Vivien Parry as Celia, Joanna Riding as Annie and Harriet Thorpe as Marie.
Also in the cast will be Stephen Boswell (Top Hat in the West End) as Colin, Joe Caffrey (The Pitmen Painters for the National Theatre, and the Father in Billy Elliott) as Rod, Jeremy Clyde (The Alan Clark Diaries and The Iron Lady) as Denis, Susan Fay as Brenda, Steve Giles as Lawrence, Richard Huw (Line of Duty) as John, Shirley Jameson as Miss Wilson, Judith Street as Lady Cravenshire and Karen West as the other Miss Wilson, and introducing the previously announced Josh Benson as Tommo, Ben Hunter as Danny and Chloe May Jackson as Jenny.
It is inspired by the true story of a group of ladies who decide to appear nude for a Women’s Institute calendar in order to raise funds to buy a settee for their local hospital.
Gary Barlow and Tim Firth grew up in the same village and have been friends for 25 years.
The show will now run from January 8-30.