The Octagon Theatre's Christmas show this year is Calendar Girls. This true story is about a group of women from a village in Yorkshire, who, following the death, from leukaemia, of one of their husbands, want to raise money to buy a setee for the waiting room at the cancer wing of their local hospital. They decide to produce a calendar with a difference. Each month will show one of the women doing the things that women at the WI do, like knitting, cake making, flower arranging etc. with one small difference; they will have no clothes on. The calendar is a huge success and enough money is raised to build a new wing in the hospital.
The director, Jane Barr, says she was very lucky to find six women who were prepared to take their clothes off on stage though at no stage is there anything in poor taste. The author, Tim Firth, says. "The art of the play's nudity lies in what is withheld. The choreography is best described as 'fabulous concealment'."
This very amusing and clever play is about women: their relationships and the fun they have together. There are some men in the cast; two husbands and the young man who takes the photos. The director was worried about finding a young man who would be willing to work with a bunch of middle-aged women. Fortunately, just the one came to auditions. Quinn has recently left school, where he enjoyed drama, and wished, with the recommendation of his drama teacher, to pursue the hobby. He seems to enjoy, or at least tolerate, the frivolity of rehearsal time.
This has been a challenging play with a cast of 14, lots of scenes and hundreds of props. including over 100 sunflowers.
In keeping with the theme of the play, the proceeds of the Gala opening night will be donated to North Haven Hospice, the catering team also forgoing two thirds of their charges for the night.