Photo Flash: Chichester Festival Theatre's CALENDAR GIRLS

Following the success of the fastest-selling tour in history and with a glowing set of reviews, CALENDAR GIRLS now sets out to conquer London’s glittering West End.

A group of extraordinary women, members of a very ordinary Yorkshire WI, spark a global phenomenon by persuading one another to pose for a charity calendar with a difference! As interest snowballs, the CALENDAR GIRLS find themselves revealing more than they'd ever planned.

A very British story, with a very British heart, CALENDAR GIRLS is based on an uplifting and very inspiring true story that is quirky, poignant and hilarious.

CALENDAR GIRLS, the new stage play by Tim Firth, adapted from his own screenplay for the 2003 film, will star Lynda Bellingham, Patricia Hodge, Sian Phillips, Gaynor Faye, Brigit Forsyth, Julia Hills and Elaine C Smith. Also in the cast are Joan Blackham, Abby Francis, Gary Lilburn, Gerard McDermot and Carl Prekopp.

The Chichester Festival Theatre production of CALENDAR GIRLS will open at the Noël Coward Theatre in London’s West End on Saturday 4 April for a 12-week limited season, running until 27 June.

Prior to the West End, “CALENDAR GIRLS” will continue its tour at His Majesty’s Theatre Aberdeen (3 – 7 February 2009), The Theatre Royal Nottingham (9 – 14 February), The Regent Theatre Stoke (16 – 21 February), The New Victoria Theatre Woking (23 – 28 February), The Mayflower Southampton (2 – 7 March), The New Theatre Cardiff (9 – 14 March), The Lowry Theatre Salford (16 – 21 March) and The Theatre Royal Norwich (23 – 28 March).

CALENDAR GIRLS is directed by Hamish McColl, who won an Olivier Award for writing and performing “The Play What I Wrote” in the West End. “CALENDAR GIRLS” will have a set by Robert Jones, with lighting by Malcolm Rippeth, costumes by Emma Williams and music by Steve Parry.

CALENDAR GIRLS is produced by David Pugh & Dafydd Rogers.

Performance times at the Noël Coward Theatre are Monday – Saturday at 7.30pm with Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm. Tickets, priced from £12.50 - £45.00 are available from the box office on 0844 482 5140 or at www.seecalendargirls.com. The normal £1.50 booking fee will be going to Leukaemia Research.