A recent production of Calendar Girls, hosted by Horseshoe Theatre Company at Rutland County Museum, has raised well over £2000 for Blood Cancer UK.

The group, who performed the show on the 25th and 26th of November 2022, created their very own calendar for 2023, and all proceeds from the sales will be going to Blood Cancer UK, a charity pertinent to the narrative of the much-loved story from Tim Firth and Juliette Towhidi.

Based on a true story, the play narrates the highs and lows of a Yorkshire Women's Institute, whose members decide to raise money for a very modest charitable cause following the death of one of their husbands, by doing an Alternative WI Calendar. The notion soon sparks the imagination of the world's media and becomes a global success, raising more money for Leukemia Research than the original 'Calendar Girls' ever believed possible.

'Annie' played by Belinda and Director, Jacqui (image courtesy of Horseshoe Theatre Company)

Now, Rutland's own local theatre group, Horseshoe Theatre Company, have raised an impressive total of their own selling their calendars for 2023.

The current total raised for Blood Cancer UK is £2363.92, and there are still calendars available to buy to boost that impressive total further.

Residents are welcome to email [email protected] if they would like a calendar as there are around 50 left still for sale.

Horseshoe Theatre Company Director added: "A gentleman from Cottesmore who had an original calendar from the original ladies in Shipley donated this for a silent auction and this raised over £100 extra for the cause, so it's been a great fundraiser for Blood cancer and we are really please everyone got so involved."

'Chris' played by Lizzie Jordan (image courtesy of Horseshow Theatre Company).

Congratulations to the group on their fundraising efforts.