calendar girls, little theatre, leicester, comedy

Their teenage years might be behind them but that did not stop a group of women baring all for their art.

Members of Leicester's Little Theatre jumped at the chance of stripping off for a production of hit comedy Calendar Girls.

The theatre is one of several across the country taking the opportunity to perform the play after the amateur dramatic rights were released this month.

The play – filmed with Helen Mirren and Julie Walters – tells the story of a Yorkshire Women's Institute which sparked a global phenomenon by posing for a charity calendar with a difference.

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The original calendar raised money for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research, in memory of one of the WI members' husbands.

The Little Theatre show will premiere tomorrow night before an audience of 350.

All proceeds from the night will be donated to Loros hospice, in Groby Road, Leicester.

Director Ruth Cheetham said: "It is a wonderful production to go for and anyone who gets it is lucky.

"We were very quick off the mark and got the licence straight away.

"It is a poignant play and I feel privileged to be directing it.

"The performance has added poignancy for the cast and the charity night will be dedicated to Judy Price, a director and actress at the theatre for a very long time, who died at Loros.

"It's not just a show about taking your clothes off, it's about what the women did to raise money to help find a cure for this terrible disease. The girls are amazingly brave and it's a fabulous show."

Jacque Hamilton, 58, who plays Chris, said: "As soon as I knew we were doing it I thought 'I've got to be in it'. It is a beautiful story.

"The nudity caused a few issues – I'm in my 50s and things aren't in the places they used to be.

"There was a little bit of angst taking your clothes off in front of other people – although it was quite refreshing and liberating. But that is a tiny part of the show.

"My husband, Ian, is totally supportive."

Doreen Woolley said: "I had no hesitation. I thought it was a terrific film.

"It's pretty frightening going on stage in the first place – to go on without clothes is terrifying, but we have such a sympathetic director.

"My husband, Thomas, thinks it's terrific. It'll be sheer terror, but I just want it to be brilliant."

The show formally opens on Friday and runs until September 15.

Proceeds from the sale of £3 souvenir calendars will go to Loros. Tickets, costing £12.60, £11.10 for concessions, are available from the box office on 0116 255 1302 or at: