Gary Barlow and Tim Firth’s Olivier Award-nominated new musical comedy The Girls, based on the true story, film and play of Calendar Girls, will complete its West End stint at the Phoenix Theatre on Saturday 15 July before departing for a UK tour.
The production, set in England’s green and pleasant land, will return home to Yorkshire and open at the Leeds Grand Theatre on 15 August 2018 and visit 42 theatres across the United Kingdom, having previously played sold-out seasons in Leeds and Manchester.
David Pugh & Dafydd Rogers, producers, said, “We are so proud and thrilled with this production, and we want to take it to everyone who wants to see it in the country, and at prices they can afford.”
Gary Barlow and Tim Firth added, “We are delighted with the reception our musical has received in Leeds, Manchester and now London, and are thrilled that the show will be visiting towns and cities up and down the country, so that more people can get a chance to see it and, we hope, will also fall in love with The Girls.”
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 in memory of one of their husbands, The Girls centres on the incredible efforts of these individuals, who have to date raised almost £5million for Bloodwise. The musical comedy shows life in their Yorkshire village, how it happened, the effect on husbands, sons and daughters, and how a group of ordinary ladies achieved something extraordinary.
Gary Barlow and Tim Firth grew up in the same village in the north of England and have been friends for 25 years. With Take That, Gary has written and co-written 14 number one singles, has sold over 50 million records worldwide and is a six times Ivor Novello Award winner. Tim has won the Olivier Award and UK Theatre Award for Best New Musical, and the British Comedy Awards Best Comedy Film for Calendar Girls.