REVIEW: Calendar Girls at The New Theatre was bare good!

Calendar Girls The Musical by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth is the award-winning production based on the true story of the calendar girls - a group of ordinary ladies who achieved something extraordinary. This marvellous musical comedy which received fantastic five star reviews in London's West End is now touring around the UK and Swindon Link's Kay Wainwright caught it when it came to Oxford's New Theatre.

By Kay Wainwright

This was a musical that really touched me as a middle-aged lady. Obviously I knew the story and had seen the film about the Yorkshire WI who decided to do something a bit more risque than just jam and Jerusalem - a nude calendar.

It was a really impressive cast with Fern Britton, Anna-Jane Casey, Sara Crowe, Karen Dunbar, Pauline Daniels, Rebecca Storm and Denise Welch. 

From start to finish it was brilliant, it perfectly flowed and you could definitely see Gary Barlow's song-writing talent on full display. Fern Britten and Denise Welsh were especially fantastic. And Sara Crowe really tickled me pink too.

They also managed to keep the humour and it was laugh out loud funny at points. I could relate to everything on the stage. It was so well done. There were moments that really touched a spot with me. We are what we are and it tackled the insecurities we all have about our bodies.

I must admit it was also really touching and I had a few tears but it was always followed by some hilarious laughter after.

The Cast were having such a good time on stage and this energy was something that really brought the audience with them for the ride.

Song-wise it was flawless. There were some slower numbers but that all added to the rip-roaring showstoppers like the very excellent scene where they actually made the calendar.

There's something quintessentially British about the WI and their meetings in the back of village halls and the musical managed to carry that over brilliantly and it was all awash with a Yorkshire feel too.

The musical runs until Saturday and if I was you I would snap up a ticket straight away as it really is a fantastic show that leaves you wanting more.