Play gets down to the bare essentials

A theatre production of Calendar Girls, based on the hit movie, will be coming to Rotorua.

A group of brave Rotorua women are preparing to get their kit off in front of an audience - all in the name of good theatre.

The cast of local ladies has been selected for the production of Calendar Girls at Rotorua's Shambles Theatre.

The show, directed by Jill Horne, will begin its run on Friday November 8.

Calendar Girls is based on the true story of a group of Women's Institute members who pose nude for a calendar to raise money for the Leukaemia Research Fund. The play followed the 2003 movie of the same name which starred Helen Mirren and Julie Walters.

Rehearsals are well underway and the cast is preparing for opening night. The season will run until Saturday November 23.

The local cast is Val Isherwood (Cora), Robyn-ann Rumney (Chris), Sue Morrison (Annie), Sharon Welch (Jessie), Chris Maher (Celia), Joanna Bergman (Ruth), Maggie Pitcher (Marie), Linda Long (Brenda), Andrew Welch (John), Steve English (Rod), Diane Pasco (Lady Cravenshire), Ian Stabler (Lawrence), Jo Adlam (Elaine) and Tim Eardly (Liam).

Group bookings of 20 or more receive a discount on the standard adult ticket price but group bookings must be made before November 1.

Contact Val Isherwood on (07) 362 8763 if you wish to make a group booking.

Tickets to the general public go on sale on November 1 and are available from the Rotorua Shambles Theatre Monday to Saturday from 11am to 2pm and from 7pm on show nights.

Show times are 8pm Wednesday to Saturday with matinees at 2pm on Sunday November 10 and 17. Door sales are also available. Ticket prices are adult $26, senior citizen $23, theatre member $20, student (with ID) $15.