“Calendar Girls”: How a Heartfelt Plan Became a Bold, Uplifting Tale
This September, Louth Playgoers are thrilled to present Calendar Girls as the opening production of our 2025–26 season. But before the curtains rise, let’s journey back to discover how a small idea among friends blossomed into a celebrated story beloved across the globe.
From a Sofa Wish to a Bold Idea
The story began in February 1998, when John Baker, husband of WI member Angela Baker, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. After his death in July that year, Angela’s friend, Tricia Stewart, sought a way to focus her grief and raise funds in John’s memory. They settled on a playful yet courageous idea: an “alternative” Women’s Institute calendar, featuring members posing nude, waist-down discretion only, to fundraise for a new sofa in the hospital’s day room where John was treated.
A Calendar That Captured the Nation’s Heart
Eleven WI women, aged 45 to 65, answered the call, drawing from friendship and shared purpose, not vanity. Photographer Terry Logan, husband of one of the participants, captured the tasteful images for the "Alternative WI Calendar" launched in April 1999.
The calendar struck a chord. It sold 88,000 copies in the UK within its first year, then an additional 240,000 copies in the US, propelling its story onto a global stage. What began as a modest fundraising effort evolved into a cultural moment that reshaped perceptions of aging, courage, and community.
From Headlines to Stage, Screen, and Beyond
The media spotlight shone brightly: national coverage for three weeks, a London Fashion Week appearance at the Savoy, and presentations to the Queen and Queen Mother. The women were named Women of the Year, and Oldie magazine crowned them “Exposure of the Year”.
The story’s reach expanded further:
A 2003 film adaptation featuring Helen Mirren and Julie Walters premiered at Leicester Square, becoming a box-office success.
A stage play opened in the West End in 2009 and toured internationally, highlighting that the story of friendship, loss, and empowerment resonates across cultures.
A musical, titled The Girls (later renamed Calendar Girls), with music by Gary Barlow and book by Tim Firth, debuted at Leeds in 2015. It opened in the West End in 2017 and raised thousands more for blood cancer research through post-show bucket collections.
A Legacy of Hope and Fundraising
What began as a heartfelt, personal tribute has grown into a lasting legacy. Since that first calendar, the initiative has raised millions for blood cancer research, transforming lives and funding vital work through Blood Cancer UK (formerly Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research). The story continues to inspire talks, appearances, and charity events, demonstrating how courage and community can spark real change.
Why Calendar Girls Still Matters
This story transcends its Yorkshire roots. At its heart, Calendar Girls is about ordinary people using humour and bravery to navigate grief, challenge conventions, and make a difference. It’s about friendship in the face of loss. And above all, it’s a reminder of how laughter and love can inspire and heal.
So, join us from September 9–13, as Riverhead Theatre brings this heartfelt, uplifting story to life. Expect laughter, tears, and a powerful reminder of what can happen when ordinary people decide to do extraordinary things.
