Theatre News

Gary Barlow's Calendar Girls musical to premiere in Leeds

”The Girls”, co-written with Tim Firth, opens in November 2015

Gary Barlow and Tim Firth with the original Calendar Girls at the launch of the musical in Burnsall Village
Gary Barlow and Tim Firth with the original Calendar Girls at the launch of the musical in Burnsall Village

Gary Barlow and Tim Firth's musical based on The Calendar Girls, titled The Girls, will open at the Leeds Grand in November.

Running from 14 November to 12 December 2015 in Leeds, The Girls will then run at the Lowry Salford from 13-30 January 2016.

The writing duo said that they are "really proud and excited" to unveil the show, which tells the true story of a group of women in a Yorkshire village who made a nude calendar to raise money for leukaemia research.

The musical was launched in Burnsall Village Hall in North Yorkshire by Barlow and Firth – who both grew up in the same village and have been friends for 25 years – on Sunday.

A workshop of The Girls had a cast including Sally Dexter, Joanna Riding and Harriet Thorpe. Casting for the premiere is to be announced.

Tim Firth wrote the film and play versions of Calendar Girls, and his other stage work includes This Is My Family, Neville's Island and Our House. Gary Barlow – famous for being part of Take That – is also penning the new Finding Neverland musical, and a version of Around the World in 80 Days.