MEMBERS of Goring Gap Players are shedding inhibitions for their latest production Calendar Girls — but it’s all in a good cause. They are one of a number of amateur groups in the county staging the show after the rights were relaxed to help raise money for the Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research charity. Calendar Girls, by Tim Firth, is based on the real-life story of a group of Women’s Institute members who stripped for a nude calendar to raise money for leukaemia research when one of their husbands is diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and later dies. The play’s most famous scene — a photo shoot for the nude calendar involving strategically-placed items including flowers, fruit and buns — will see the amateur actresses stand behind the props on stage. Directing the play for the Goring group is Pauline Cain, who said: “I first read the play back in 2011 and coming from North Yorkshire I found it to be ‘right up my Yorkshire Dales’ so to speak.” The story of the WI members was turned into a film starring Helen Mirren and Julie Walters in 2003 and adapted as the stage play five years later. Director Pauline added: “Guaranteed to make you laugh, cry and come out singing Jerusalem, Calendar Girls has since become the fastest-selling play in British theatre history and well worth a date in your diary.” In order of appearance, the cast for the show is: Cora: Carolyn Armstrong; Chris: Sarah Loveland; Annie: Chantelle Harding; Annie understudy: Amanda Holland; Jessie: Ann Hart; Celia: Janet Dalton; Ruth: Helen McCutcheon; Marie: Helen Goodwin; Brenda Hulse: Fran Weetman; John: Teri Stevens; Rod: Stuart Hunt; Lady Cravenshire: Gaye Walsh; Lawrence: Martin Audley; Elaine: Halleh Sheibeh and Liam: Ian Miles. The Players will be performing the play at Goring village hall from Tuesday to Saturday, November 20 to 24, at 8pm, and tickets at £10 are available now from Inspiration, High Street, Goring, by calling Jean Betteridge on 01491 873530 or by email at: goringgapplayers@gmail.com The producers of Calendar Girls are charging £100 per performance for groups staging the show, with a percentage going to the leukaemia charity.