Calendar Girls

Tip Top Productions will present Tim Firth's much-loved Calendar Girls at Theatr Clwyd, opening Wednesday 17 March 2027 and playing for five performances, including a Saturday matinee.

Rehearsals will begin in early January 2027, with auditions planned for late October 2026.

 

At its heart, Calendar Girls is an ensemble piece about friendship, loss, courage and a group of very different women who discover that they are capable of considerably more than they imagined.

 

We are looking for strong character actors who can find both the comedy and the truth in the play. These shouldn't be caricatures. The humour works because we believe in the people.

 

CHRIS – around 50

 

Confident, outgoing, mischievous and naturally the centre of attention. Chris will talk to anybody and is never short of something to say. She's the driving force behind the calendar and needs an actor with terrific comic instincts, warmth and considerable stage presence. Her friendship with Annie is central to the play.

 

ANNIE – 50s

 

Warm, grounded and rather less confrontational than Chris, but certainly no pushover. John's illness and death give Annie some of the play's most emotionally demanding material, while her relationship with Chris provides much of its heart and humour. The actor needs both emotional depth and an instinct for comedy.

 

CORA – around 40

 

The joker in the pack, but never the fool. Intelligent, resilient and blessed with a wonderfully deadpan wit. Cora has a more colourful past than some of her fellow WI members and isn't easily shocked. The actor needs to be able to sing confidently and ideally play basic piano/keyboard, although the latter may be something we can accommodate depending upon casting.

 

JESSIE – late 60s/70s

 

A retired teacher, formidable, intelligent and gloriously forthright. Jessie loves life, isn't remotely interested in pretending to be younger than she is and has little patience with nonsense. She needs an actor who can deliver a line with absolute authority and impeccable comic timing.

 

CELIA – approximately 35–50

 

Stylish, glamorous and accustomed to a rather different social world from the other women. Beneath the polished exterior, however, is a rebellious streak which gradually emerges. Celia should have presence and confidence without becoming a stereotype of the glamorous woman.

 

RUTH – 40s

 

Initially eager to please and lacking in confidence, Ruth undergoes perhaps the biggest personal transformation in the play. Her journey from insecurity to genuine self-confidence provides both wonderful comedy and some very satisfying dramatic moments. A particularly rewarding character role.

 

MARIE – 50s

 

The WI chairwoman. Organised, proper and very conscious of doing things correctly. She can appear pompous and controlling, but there is considerably more underneath. The comedy comes from playing Marie seriously rather than turning her into a comic monster.

 

LADY CRAVENSHIRE – 60s

 

A smaller but memorable character role. Grand, imposing and unintentionally patronising, she inhabits a rather different world from the Calendar Girls. Her entrance should make an impression.

 

ELAINE – 20s

A younger woman from Jessie's family whose polished, rather clinical manner contrasts beautifully with Jessie. Another smaller character role with good comic potential.

 

 

JOHN – 50s

 

Annie's husband and the emotional catalyst for the whole story. Warm, decent, funny and immensely likeable. He isn't written as a saint or tragic hero; he's an ordinary, good man. The audience needs to understand immediately why Annie loves him and why his loss affects this group of people so profoundly.

 

ROD – 50s

 

Chris's husband. To survive happily with Chris requires a man who can give as good as he gets. Rod is supportive, dryly funny and has an easy relationship with both Chris and John. A strong character role requiring understated, deadpan humour.

 

LAWRENCE – late 20s to 39ish

 

The photographer. Slightly shy and hesitant without being nerdy. He finds himself faced with a roomful of women preparing to take their clothes off and somehow has to remain professional. Much of the comedy comes from his discomfort and reactions rather than playing for laughs.

 

LIAM – late 20s

 

The photographer involved later in the story. Professional and patient, although we sense that this particular assignment isn't quite the career opportunity he had imagined. A smaller role requiring understated comedy.

 

 

The ages above are playing ages, not necessarily the actual ages of actors.

We won't be casting by birth certificate. What matters is whether the relationships look and feel credible and whether an actor has the qualities required for the character.

 

 

There is no requirement to arrive at auditions with an elaborate Yorkshire accent.

The author's own guidance makes clear that truthful, natural delivery and the rhythm of the comedy are more important than slavish attention to accent. We will establish an appropriate and consistent approach during rehearsal.

 

 

Anyone considering one of the principal Calendar Girl roles should understand that the famous calendar sequence is an integral part of the play.

It involves suggested nudity, carefully concealed through posing, props, furniture and staging. The intention is funny, celebratory and completely non-sexual.

No actor will be expected to do anything with which they are uncomfortable. How these sequences will be staged will be discussed openly with the actors involved, and boundaries will be established clearly and respected throughout rehearsals and performances.

At audition, however, we would ask potential cast members to consider whether they are comfortable with the nature and intention of these scenes before putting themselves forward for one of the Calendar Girl roles.

 

 

This is very much an ensemble play. There are wonderful individual roles, but its success depends upon believing that these women have histories, friendships, irritations and affection for one another.

I will be particularly interested in actors who can listen and react, rather than simply wait for their next line; who understand that some of the biggest laughs come from playing a situation absolutely truthfully; and who are prepared to create a generous ensemble in which everybody contributes to the whole.

Above all, I want the audience to laugh enormously — and then, perhaps when they least expect it, be genuinely moved

 

Auditions: Late October 2026…date will be posted on TIp Top website 

 

Rehearsals: From early January 2027

 

Performances: 17–20 March 2027 – Theatr Clwyd

 

Five performances including Saturday matinee

 

Enquiries: [email protected]

 

Director: Peter Swingler OBE