Final Birmingham fling for Calendar Girls

Calendar Girls' sell-out tour is doing a final round with a last visit to the Birmingham Hippodrome's famous stage.

Sir Cliff Richard was so enraptured by Calendar Girls that he was moved to describe it thus: "A show I could see over and over again – and I hope I will."

Happily for Sir Cliff, and tens of thousands of other Calendar Girls fans, there's every opportunity to do just that.

Calendar Girls, by Tim Firth, has been on a seemingly-never-ending tour of the UK with a revolving cast of players.

Since its adaptation for the stage, it has played to vast crowds around the world, becoming a global phenomenon.

It arrives at Birmingham's Hippodrome Theatre on Tuesday, January 31, running until Saturday, February 4.

Hippodrome spokeswoman Mandy Rose said: "Following an award-winning West End run and three sell-out, record breaking weeks in Birmingham, Calendar Girls is coming back for the very last time.

"The original Calendar Girl herself Lynda Bellingham is returning to the show with Camilla Dallerup, Jan Harvey, Sue Holderness, Deena Payne, Lisa Riley, June Watson and Ruth Madoc with Kevin Sacre as Lawrence the photographer and Joe McGann as John."

Calendar Girls became a hit in 2003 when the comedy film directed by Nigel Cole and starring Dame Helen Mirren and Julie Walters became a hit.

The movie also featured Linda Bassett, Annette Crosbie, Celia Imrie, Penelope Walton and Geraldine James. It was shot on a budget of $10 million dollars and grossed around $100 million.

Ms Rose added that the production told the story of a group of ordinary women who do something extraordinary and spark a global phenomenon when they persuade one another to pose for a charity calendar with a difference.

She said: "Based on an inspiring true story, Calendar Girls is quirky, poignant and hilarious. Every time, Calendar Girls has sold out before it even opened, so don't miss out and book today for the show the Mail on Sunday called 'marvelous theatre, guaranteed to make you laugh, cry and come out singing Jerusalem!'"

The film won the British Comedy Award for Best Comedy Film and won Golden Globe nominations for Mirren and Waters. It was adapted into a stage play in 2008.

The plot follows the story of Annie Clarke's husband, John, who dies from leukaemia at an early age.

Her close friend, Chris Harper, hits upon the idea of printing a calendar featuring Knapely WI, discreetly posing nude – only for it to take off and become a huge success. The show has won rave reviews and has a number of well-known fans, including June Whitfield CBE, who said: "Lots of laughs and a few tears. This show should be on everyone's calendar."

Ian Hislop, the editor of Private Eye and star of Have I Got News For You, added: "Funny, charming and a touching tribute to the fundraising efforts of a group of extraordinary, ordinary women."

Further details are available at www.birminghamhippodrome.com