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Gary Barlow and Tim Firth's
new British musical:- 'The Girls'
THE full cast has been announced for
Gary Barlow and Tim Firth’s new British musical, 'The Girls',
based on the true story, the film and award winning play by Tim Firth, Calendar
Girls, which will have its world premiere at the Grand Theatre Leeds from
Saturday, 14 November to Saturday, 12 December 2015 and at the Lowry Salford,
now from Friday, 8 January to Saturday, 30 January 2016, the Lowry has had 5
extra performances have been added due to high ticket sales.
The cast will be led by Debbie Chazen as Ruth,
Sara Kestelman as Jessie, Claire Machin as Cora, Claire Moore as Chris, Vivien
Parry as Celia, Joanna Riding as Annie and Harriet Thorpe as Marie. Debbie
Chazen played Ethel Kingsley in Mike Leigh’s film Topsy Turvy and her many
television credits include:- the lead roles of Annie in 'Smoking Room'
and Kelly-Su Crabtree in 'Psychoville'. Sara Kestelman won an
Olivier Award for her performance as Fraulein Schneider in Sam Mendes’ Cabaret
at the Donmar; Sara has appeared extensively with the RSC, including:- playing
Titania in Peter Brook’s landmark production of 'A Midsummer Night’s
Dream.' She also created the role of Margrethe Bohr in Michael Frayn’s
award winning 'Copenhagen.' Claire Machin’s credits include:-
'My Fair Lady', 'Mary Poppins', 'Betty Blue Eyes'
and 'Memphis'. Claire Moore originated the role of Ellen in 'Miss Saigon. Her
other credits include:- Christine in 'The Phantom of the Opera',
Fantine and Madame Thenardier in 'Les Miserables' and the National
Theatre’s award winning 'London Road.' Vivien Parry’s credits
include:- Madge in the original cast of 'Top Hat', Donna in
'Mamma Mia!' and Mrs Johnston in 'Blood Brothers.' Joanna
Riding won the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical twice for her roles
as Julie in 'Carousel' at the National Theatre and as Eliza
Doolitle in 'My Fair Lady.' Harriet Thorpe’s many television roles
include:- Carole in 'Brittas Empire' and Fleur in
'Absolutely Fabulous.' Her recent theatre credits include Great Britain,
Wicked and Mamma Mia!. Also in the cast will be Stephen Boswell
('Top Hat' in the West End) as Colin, Joe Caffrey ('The Pitmen
Painters' for the National Theatre, and played the Father in
'Billy Elliott') as Rod, Jeremy Clyde (credits include:- 'The Alan
Clark Diaries' and 'The Iron Lady') as Denis, Susan Fay as
Brenda, James Gaddas (credits include:- 'Bad Girls' and
'Coronation Street') as John, Steve Giles as Lawrence, Shirley Jameson
as Miss Wilson, Judith Street as Lady Cravenshire and Karen West as the other
Miss Wilson, and introducing the previously announced Josh Benson as Tommo, Ben
Hunter as Danny and Chloe May Jackson as Jenny. 'The Girls'
is inspired by the true story of a group of ladies, who decide to appear nude
for a Women’s Institute calendar in order to raise funds to buy a settee for
their local hospital, in memory of one of their husbands. This musical comedy
shows life in their Yorkshire village, how it happened, the effect on husbands,
sons and daughters, and how a group of ordinary ladies achieved something
extraordinary. Gary Barlow and Tim Firth grew up in the same village in the
north of England and have been friends for 25 years. With Take That, Gary has
written and co-written 14 number 1 singles, has sold over 50 million records
worldwide and is a 6 times Ivor Novello Award winner. Tim has won the Olivier
Award and UK Theatre Award for Best New Musical, and the British Comedy Awards
Best Comedy Film for Calendar Girls. 'The Girls' will be directed
by Roger Haines and Tim Firth, with comedy staging by Jos Houben, design by
Robert Jones, lighting design by Tim Lutkin, sound design by Terry Jardine and
Nick Lidster, musical direction and orchestrations by Richard Beadle, associate
producer U-Live, with casting by Sarah Bird. Bloodwise (formerly known as
Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research) will receive monies from this musical.
'The Girls' will be produced by David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers and The
Shubert Organization. 'The Girls' is working in partnership with
Welcome to Yorkshire.
To book tickets to see this show at Visit the
Leeds Grand Thearter's
website, or call in to the Box Office, at:-
46 New Briggate, Leeds, (LS1 6NZ), alternatively call:- 0844 848 2700.
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