We caught up with Denise Welch and Karen Dunbar !

Calendar Girls – The Musical.

We are all at least aware of the Calendar Girls story, it, and the movie which brought it to life on the big screen are hugely iconic, ‘a group or ordinary women, doing an extraordinary thing.’ So how does it fair on stage, as a musical?

We met with stars of the show Denise Welsh and Karen Dunbar, Denise insisting it’s less of a musical and more of, ‘a play with music.’ In so many musicals there’s a storyline over which belters of songs are hung, this doesn’t feel like that, it feels like the songs, heart wrenching songs in places, fit the story beautifully.

From start to finish the show is a complete and utter rollercoaster of emotion, side splitting funnies segued with moments that will have you close to (or in) tears. It’s a very lucky person who hasn’t had to deal with a loved one going through cancer, and I think that’s why this show works so well, it’s relatable.

Denise said during our chat, ‘in all the 40 years I’ve been in the business, I’ve never done anything that invokes as much of an audience reaction as this.’ I can completely understand why. She plays her character Celia brilliantly, the highlight being her solo number, ‘I’ve had a little work done.’

Those of us who remember Karen Dunbar from her ‘Chewin the fat’ days, and who, like me were blissfully unaware that she has since done loads of theatre including Shakespeare, since, might well hand her the star of the show. Not only is she brilliant playing the single mum, she can SING!

Is it just a theatre show for the girls to watch? Absolutely not. Both Karen and Denise insisted that it’s often the men in the audience who clap and cheer the loudest, and it’s not just because of the photo shoot scene. In fact, as hilarious as it is, it’s not the highlight of the show.

Hear our chat with the ladies below.

Calendar Girls The Musical is at HMT until 2ndMarch