This heart-warming and joyful production has opened at Rackheath!
Calendar Girls is the play by Tim Firth based on the film, which was based on a true story. The story follows the Women’s Institute in Yorkshire as they plan to pose for a nude calendar to raise money for one of their late husbands. The story is both emotional and heart-warming, allowing for a challenging production for any group willing to take this on (not to mention the confidence to take part in the nude calendar). The Rackheath Players are a well-formed amateur dramatic group in Rackheath, near to Norwich. Having watched some previous productions (with Bad Girls being a stand out) I was intrigued to see their take of this wonderful story!
This production is directed by Caroline Manley. Manley’s direction feels strong, understanding the importance of the heart of this story. Moments of emotion are expressed perfectly by the movement on stage: showing clear knowledge of this script and story. The stage and village hall had been completed with real sunflowers which was a fantastic touch. The set was well detailed, being set primarily inside the Women’s Institute which worked well. Lighting was used effectively to transition to other locations without changing the set which helped form great pacing. Similarly, sound design was exactly perfect for the play: helping to emphasise different moments more.
Alex Leech plays Lawrence and Liam. Leech’s portrayal of Lawrence added character to the calendar and he was able to portray this awkwardness very well on stage. Zoe Harvey plays Lady Cravenshire and Elaine. Harvey’s ability to switch between characters was good and she felt confident portraying them. Aaron Burgess plays Rod. As Chris’s husband, Burgess is able to add character into each scene: helping to make the world feel more alive. Jenny Howard plays Brenda. Howard’s character worked well to add humour in the institute and help us learn the other women. Simon Taulor plays John. John is at the emotional core of the story and Taulor fully understands this. His portrayal was strong and he showed John’s condition with care and thoughtfulness. Keira Long plays Marie. Long is able to play this ‘in charge’ presence very well, adding authority within the institute.
The titular Calendar Girls themselves, and the brave women being nude on stage include Julie Benfield as Jessie, Claire Taylor as Ruth, Katie Story as Cora, Georgia Chapman as Celia, Ruth Church as Annie and Angela Smith as Chris. As a unit, all six women felt believable as a group and their relationships felt genuine: helping us to gravitate towards them. Benfield, Taylor, Story and Church are able to add humour into nearly all scenes they are in. Their dynamics are strong and each felt unique in their own way. Church gets to show strong emotion due to the storyline, which she represents incredibly well. Her dynamics alongside Taulor allowed for some of the most heart-warming parts of the play. Smith is charismatic as Chris and allows the group to have a continuous push for the calendar itself. All of the women were very brave and seemed to be enjoying themselves, which elevates this production!
Calendar Girls continues to play until Saturday! Don’t miss this production and book your tickets now!
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