REVIEW - Calendar Girls, The Asylum Players, Blue Room Theatre, Thursday 31st July - Saturday 2nd August 2025 - ****

The Asylum Players’ summer 2025 production of Calendar Girls, directed by Stephen Gillard, is a resounding, heartfelt triumph. The intimate confines of the Blue Room, with the staging meticulously handled by returning director Stephen Gillard, admirably suited the story’s warmth and humour.

The Cast of 'Calendar Girls' (c) Stephen Gillard Photography

It was a humid, sticky opening night, with the venue packed to the rafters. The Asylum Players Company has a very strong following, being the only semi-professional theatre company within the city that specialises in plays. And the audience responded very well; Tim Firth’s crowd-pleasing, award-winning script is the epitome of a ‘comedy-drama’, with the emotional depth perfectly played out by the cast, juxtaposing with the big laughs, and the pseudo-swashbuckling-camaraderie prevalent throughout. True, Firth’s opening scenes may be slightly stodgy - with the driving plot making a relatively late appearance - but nonetheless, the performers deliver the goods, and then the surprises and interplay just keeps on coming.

It’s slick, empowering and riotously funny and of course comes with loaded trepidation and titillation, in equal measures. In frequently contrasting moments, Annie’s grief (portrayed by Sarah Ward) was raw and honest, while Sally Rousseau’s Chris handled the complexity of her character with an attractive, determined grit. Their friendship and unshifting ‘Northern-powerhouse-drive’ was key to the performance and often heartbreakingly effective. While Ward carries the heart of the show effortlessly, it falls to Rousseau to repeatedly reset the energy button. Both achieve these feats with copious, admirable vigour.

Sarah Ward, Nicole Gray and Sally Rousseau in 'Calendar Girls' (c) Richard Hall

The full ensemble of WI women—retired teacher Jessie (Barbara Lynch), the joker of the pack Cora (Nicole Gray), the mousey, neurotic Ruth (Rachel Pick), and the rebellious, flirtatious Celia (Philippa Casares) - brought these identifiable characters to life with warmth, wit, and authenticity. Firth’s script and Gillard’s direction see that no-one outshines the others. Perhaps paradoxically, the two most powerful scenes (the passing of Annie’s husband, and the frivolity of the photoshoot), are the furthest points apart within this emotionally-charged play. Aiding these scenes, in particular, are the supporting players: Steve Taylor’s John is a totally measured performance and Joe Brammer’s awkward, peppy photographer Lawrence gave his scenes an added kinetic energy. Brammer returns to play the somewhat darker, distant Liam.  Other roles are admirably performed by Bob Chatterton, with a wonderful gentle charisma, Laura Martin’s prudish Marie, Emily Hodgson as the glamorous, patronising make-up artist, and there’s an amusing double turn by Sarah Chatterton showcasing her versatility in the giggle-some opening broccoli scene and, later on, as the efficient Lady Cravenshire.

Sarah Ward, Nicole Gray, Rachel Pick, Sally Rousseau, Philippa Casares and Laura Martin in 'Calendar Girls' (c) Richard Hall

Graham Scott’s scenic design effectively invoked a village hall space, and there’s a lovely welcoming touch - the cast and crew have cheekily created their own calendar. Proceeds from both ticket and calendar sales were donated to St Barnabas Hospice Charity. A very nice touch, and a lovely tie-in that added a genuine community spirit to the evening.

Sarah Ward, Philippa Casares, Nicole Gray, Barbara Lynch and Sally Rousseau in 'Calendar Girls' (c) Richard Hall

It’s the kind of theatre that feels ambitious without ever reaching for spectacle; instead, it relies on sharp ensemble work, emotional resonance, and good-hearted storytelling.

'Calendar Girls' is playing at The Blue Room in Lincoln on Saturday 2nd August at 2pm and 7.30pm. You can purchase tickets via the link below:

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