Hawera to host Calendar Girls

Calendar Girls will have its last amateur production in Hawera.

Hawera Repertory will mark a theatrical milestone in February, 2014 when they present the very last amateur production of the play Calendar Girls, the stage version of a successful 2003 film.

Publicity officer Ben Thomas (pictured) already featured on page six today as Supreme Winner of the Bizlink Hawera Awards, said they were amazed to discover that Hawera would see the final amateur performance of this popular British comedy.

The amateur rights were released by writers Tim Firth and Julie Towhidi from September 1, 2012 for 18 months only.

By August 2012, 520 applications throughout the world had been received and 322 licences were granted.

"And we were one of them ... well thank goodness we're staging it before the amateur rights were cut off. We've just scraped in."

Hawera woman Samantha Turner will direct the production, he said.

"This is Samantha's third production and she will do a great job. It's a fantastic play."

The 2003 comedy film, directed by Nigel Cole, was based on a true story of a group of Yorkshire women who produced a nude calendar to raise money for Leukaemia Research under the auspices of the Women's Institute in April 1999.

The cast was headed by Helen Mirren and Julie Walters.

The film received great reviews from critics and became a major success, grossing $96 million worldwide.

The stage adaptation of the film opened in London's West End in 2009. It was also a financial success and Mr Thomas said it undoubtedly will be in Hawera as well. "We're a very supportive town in all our community events."

Auditions will be held on Sunday October 13, from 9.30am at Repertory House in Collins Street, he said.