You can keep your clothes on

GOOD TIME FOR A GOOD CAUSE: The G'zukers Goodtime Band, made up of Marty Reynolds (left), Greg Harman, Sheridan Gundry, Mike Eriksen, Mary Hope and Hugo McGuinness, are part of the line-up for a fundraising concert on Saturday for the Gisborne Cancer Society. Picture by Paul Rickard

A chord of ukuleles, a fling of strings, recorders and keyboards and an ensemble of four-part harmonies are set to lift late summer spirits in a pre-dinner soiree on Saturday at Unity Theatre.

G'zukers Goodtime Band, Barleycorn and Savvy a cappella are getting together to promote Unity's upcoming drama Calendar Girls and to fundraise for Gisborne's Cancer Society.

With its eclectic mix of Kiwi and international music, the G'zukers Goodtime Band will set the scene before the four-piece Barleycorn present an almost-St Patrick's Day ceilidh of Irish jigs, reels and folk tunes.

Savvy a cappella, led by international songstress Toni Griffin, will round off the early evening with a handful of vocal sunshine before the cast of Calendar Girls sing a famous English song that forms part of the play.

Concert organiser Heather McIntyre said raising funds for a community cancer support group was a condition of staging the popular play.

“Just about everyone is touched by cancer in some way and we are delighted to help raise money for this most worthwhile cause,” she said.

Calendar Girls is based on a true story about several women's institute members in Britain who pose nude for a calendar to raise money for leukaemia research. It is also a popular film.

The fundraising concert starts at 4pm, Saturday 14 March at Unity Theatre in Ormond Road.

Doors open at 3.30pm. Tickets are $20 (includes complimentary snacks) and can be bought from Heather 027 688 1337 or Sarah 021 0261 2259; or at the Cancer Society, Gisborne Hospital from 9am to 4.30pm Monday to Thursday (cash sales only).

Directed by Julie McPhail, Calendar Girls starts on April 16 and runs until April 25.