A GROUP of Blackwood women are preparing to bare all as a theatre group in the town gets ready to stage Calendar Girls.

Blackwood Little Theatre is staging its amateur production as part of a world record attempt.

And as if stripping off with naught but well-placed props covering their modesty wasn't enough, the ladies and gentlemen of the cast have produced their own version of the famous calendar to raise money for charity.

The calendars, which can be bought for £5 at the show or pre-ordered online, will raise money for Helping Hands, Hospices of the Valleys, MacMillan Nurses and Cancercareline.

Pictures in the calendar were taken in shops and businesses around Blackwood which sponsored the show, including the Rock Pub, Blackwood Garden Centre, Chris Waite Car Sales and Clive's Bakery.

The production of Tim Firth’s Calendar Girls is being made available to amateur groups across the UK for 12 months as part of a world record attempt to get as many productions performed as possible.

Director, Peta Maidman, said: "The response and dedication of everyone involved has been amazing. Due to the nature of the play and it being such a massive hit on stage and screen, rehearsals have been a joy, with everyone pitching in to make it not only a fantastic production, but also to ensure this is an event that will live long in the memories of audience and theatre alike."

The opening night, a black tie event on September 1 which will donate the proceeds to cancer charities, has sold out, but the show runs from September 4 - 8.

For more information, and to book tickets, call the box office on 07930 599 317 or visit www.blackwoodlt.org.uk

 

CALENDAR girls is based on the true story of the women of the Rylstone Women's Institute, based near Skipton in North Yorkshire.

Every year, the women would produce a calendar based around the scenes of the Yorkshire Dales to raise money for charities in the area.

In 1998, John Baker, husband of WI member Angela Baker, died after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, so the group decided to do something in his memory and raise money.

The group made a calendar of themselves in the nude and it went on to become a worldwide sensation, spawning stage shows and a film starring Helen Mirren.

To date, the ladies have raised more than £3 million for leukaemia and lymphoma research.