Warning: contains nudity and laughs

IN TUNE: Charli Haskell (left), Paula Hatten, Kate Gilmore and Pam Sanders rehearse for a scene around the piano in Unity Theatre's upcoming production of Tim Firth, the stage adaptation of the movie Calendar Girls. Picture by Elenor Gill

Deep down in some small recess of Julie McPhail's soul was a tiny wish the turnout for auditions for Unity Theatre's auditions for Calendar Girls would not be big. She was keen to take on a role in the comdedy.

As it happened, the number of contenders for a role in the play based on the true story of a group of middle-aged Yorkshire women who produced a nude calendar to raise money for a charity was almost overwhelming.

McPhail was not fazed though. She is directing the comedy she has long wanted to stage.

“This is something I've wanted to do for a while,” she says.

“It's a really neat story.”

When Annie's husband John dies, Annie and Chris plan to raise money for a new settee in the local hospital waiting room.

The women manage to persuade four friends and fellow members of the Women's Institute (WI) to pose nude with them for an “alternative” calendar.

They also persuade hospital porter and amateur photographer Lawrence (James Packman), who looked after John in his final days, to take on the role of calendar photographer.

WI chairwoman Marie is horrified at the calendar girls idea but the success of the calendar goes beyond their wildest dreams. It also catches the attention of the national and international press, who descend on the small village of Knapeley in the Yorkshire Dales.

Success comes with its own pressure though and Chris and Annie's friendship is put to the test with their new-found fame.

“The women come together for a common cause but they do have a few mishaps along the way,” says McPhail.

“Because they make more money from the calendar than they expect, you see them handle fame in different ways.”

The women know one another through the WI, but they are very different characters, says McPhail.

Among the cast is Kate Gilmour who plays Cora, the vicar's daughter and church organist. Allyse Thompson's Annie is very conservative while, as the long-time friend of Annie, Wendy Dewstow's character Chris helps push the calendar project along while Marie, played by Natasha Ashworth, is prim, proper and very much against the idea. Played by Paula Hatten, Ruth is the youngest of the group.

“She doesn't have a lot of self-confidence and does what Marie tells her,” says McPhail.

“She is very uncomfortable with the plan.”

The oldest character among the women is Jessie, who is played by Dorothy Fletcher.

“She loves life and is all for the calendar.”

A relative newcomer to Gisborne theatre but a passionate and experienced actor, Charli Haskill is cast as WI member and socialite Celia.

Aaron Dunn plays the poignant part of John, while, as Rod, Hugo McGuinness is Chris's long-suffering husband.

Fraser Grout has an interesting cameo part towards the end that will not be revealed here.

“The actors work together so well; they're the coolest cast — and it's neat these three groups have come together on this project,” says McPhail.