CALENDAR GIRLS - The Musical ended its national run on Saturday at Chichester Festival Theatre. The producers and writers donate a portion of their royalties to Bloodwise every time the musical is performed. Other donations come in from members of the public who give money to the teams of volunteers as they leave the theatre at the end. It is due to the combined generosity of the audience and diligence of the volunteers that this tour alone has raised over £200,000 in bucket collections. Our thanks to you all. (25/11/2019)
THE FLINT STREET NATIVITY, Tim Firth's alternative Nativity, opens at York's Theatre Royal on 12th December and runs until 22nd December. THE FLINT STREET NATIVITY was originally a TV comedy produced for Yorkshire Television and aired during Christmas 1999. The eight-year-old pupils of Flint Street Primary School, all played by adults, perform the nativity play for their parents. The story is based on real events, collected over a period of ten years from members of Tim Firth's family and friends who were teachers.
In addition, amateur groups across the UK are performing THE FLINT STREET NATIVITY during the build up to Christmas. See the What'sOn page, HERE, for more details. (23/11/2019)
With the release of the CALENDAR GIRLS Songbook, SHEETMUSICONLINE interviewed Tim and Gary Barlow. They talked about their musical influences and their collaboration. You can read the interview HERE at SHEETMUSICONLINE.com Blog. (27/09/2019)
The official sheet music for the West End hit Calendar Girls – The Musical is now available. Be one of the first to learn all the biggest songs from the award-winning show. The songbook includes selections for piano, voice and guitar and includes stunning imagery and an exclusive preface from Tim and Gary Barlow. You can buy the songbook HERE. (23/09/2019)
Banned Together: A Censorship Cabaret is a celebration of songs and scenes from shows that have been censored or challenged on America’s stages, created to raise awareness around issues of censorship and free expression in the theatre. Previous performances have featured selections from Cabaret, Chicago, Almost, Maine, Rent and Angels in America, among other notable works, with contextual commentary by DLDF president John Weidman.
The shows will be perfomed at the following venues: Atlanta-Out Front Theater,
Boston- Boston Public Library, Chicago-Roosevelt University, Dallas-Bishop Arts Theater, Nashville Actors Bridge Studio at Darkhorse Chapel, Philadelphia-Free Library of Philadelphia and St. Petersburg, FL-Palladium Theater. (10/09/2019)
THIS IS MY FAMILY finished its Chichester run on Saturday having become the most successful show in the history of the Minerva Theatre. (18/06/2019)
The latest reviews of This Is My Family are available to view on various websites including here on TimFirth.com. The run at Chichester has now sold out but some prologue tickets for younger people are still available at some shows. Please check with the theatre Box Office. The musical runs until 15th June. You can read the reviews HERE. More details on the WHAT'SON page. (12/05/19)
This Is My Family opens at Chichester Festival Theatre on Saturday 20 April. James Nesbitt (Cold Feet) makes his Chichester debut as Dad (Steve) whilst Sheila Hancock stars as May. Clare Burt returns to the role of Mum, as does Rachel Lumberg as Sian. The role of Nicky is played by Kirsty MacLaren and Matt by Scott Foley. The musical runs until 15th June. Tickets are on sale now. More details on the WHAT'SON page. (18/04/19)
Lesley Joseph, star of Birds of a Feather, will join the UK and Ireland tour of the hit musical Calendar Girls later this year. Joseph will play Jessie and joins a new cast featuring Sarah Jane Buckley (Blood Brothers) as Annie, Sue Devaney (Dinnerladies) as Cora, Julia Hills (Broadchurch) as Ruth, Judy Holt (Cold Feet) as Marie and Lisa Maxwell (Hollyoaks) as Celia. Lesley Joseph previously appeared as Chris in the non-musical version of the show. The new cast will begin performances in Southend on 23 April. Dates and venues are on the WHAT'SON page. (9/04/19)
The first of This Is My Family portraits (left) has been released showing day one of rehearsals. The musical runs from 20th April to 15th June at Chichester Festival Theatre. Tickets are on sale now. (18/03/19)
Tim's and Take That's musical The Band, ends its long tour on Saturday. After a year of rehearsal and planning, two years of touring and over 500 performances, the show ends with a return visit to Southampton's Mayflower Theatre. (14/03/2019)
Tickets for This Is My Family, Tim’s award winning musical, go on sale 2nd March. The musical runs from 20th April to 15th June.
James Nesbitt (Cold Feet) makes his Chichester debut as Dad (Steve) whilst Sheila Hancock stars as May. Clare Burt returns to the role of Mum, as does Rachel Lumberg as Sian. Tickets and Box Office details HERE. (1/03/19)
This Is My Family Tim’s award winning musical, will open at the Minerva Theatre as part of the Chichester Festival and runs from 20th April to 15th June.
James Nesbitt (Cold Feet) makes his Chichester debut as Dad (Steve) whilst Sheila Hancock stars as May. Clare Burt also returns to the role of Mum (Yvonne). They are joined by Kirsty MacLaren who plays Nicky, Rachel Lumberg (Sian) and Scott Folan (Matt). The production is directed by Daniel Evans. (14/02/19)
Earlier this month Tim Firth sat down with Radio3's Private Passions presenter Michael Berkeley and recorded his musical passions for the BBC radio show. The programme is available to catch-up HERE. (09/12/18)
Tim Firth's new musical The Band, with the music of Take That, is gearing up for its six-week run at the Theatre Royal Haymarket this Christmas. David Pugh said of the West End transfer, "Our co-producers, Gary, Howard, Mark and Robbie, are totally chuffed that London's glittering West End will see this award-winning production at the historic Theatre Royal Haymarket this Christmas season. The Band will run from 1 December 2018 to 12 January 2019. (04/11/2018)
A special Gala Charity event for Tim Firth's award-winning new musical The Band, with the music of Take That, is being hosted by the musical's co-producers, Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams, with David Furnish, Chairman of the Elton John AIDS Foundation. The Gala will take place at the Theatre Royal Haymarket on Tuesday 4 December 2018. (03/11/2018)
Whilst the musical 'The Band' is playing across the UK - the German Take That fans can enjoy it also. The Band - The Musical is coming to Berlin in 2019! From April, the Take That Musical will be in the heart of Berlin, at the Stage Theater of the West. Tickets are now available at Ticketmaster. (26/10/2018)
After a sell out opening at Leeds, its spiritual home and the capital of Yorkshire, CALENDAR GIRLS THE MUSICAL moves to Canterbury and the Marlowe Theatre. If you've not seen this award winning show, there's never been a better time to catch it as it tours the UK. You can read some of the reviews by theatre goers HERE on Calendar Girls the Musical Twitter page. The full tour dates are on the 'WHAT'SON' page. (03/09/18)
Last month the Radio Times voted ROGER AND THE ROTTENTROLLS one of the fifty greatest children’s television programmes of all time. Filmed entirely on location in Brimham Rocks near Harrogate, it was co-created by Calendar Girls writer Tim Firth and his father, the Yorkshire-born artist Gordon Firth who died last week at the age of 82. READ MORE HERE (20/06/18)
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The new cast of CALENDAR GIRLS The Musical met for the first time with the original Calendar Girls themselves in the beautiful village of Burnsall in the Yorkshire Dales and the original Calendar Girls couldn’t be happier with this new cast. The new production, which will tour nearly every theatre in the British Isles, is already breaking box office records, and tickets are selling like hot buns. The tour opens at the Leeds Grand Theatre on 16 August 2018. The new tour will star novelist and television presenter Fern Britton, returning to the stage for the first time in 30 years, as Marie, Anna-Jane Casey, as Annie, Sara Crowe as Ruth, Karen Dunbar as Cora, Ruth Madoc as Jessie, Rebecca Storm as Chris and Denise Welch as Celia. (01/05/18)
The fastest selling musical theatre tour of all time, new musical THE BAND by Tim Firth and featuring the music of Take That comes to the London's West End this December. It will run at the Theatre Royal Haymarket from 1st December 2018 to 12th January 2019, with tickets on sale from this coming Monday (19th March). (16/03/18)
Calendar Girls - the Musical' CD is released at the end of this week. The original cast recording of Calendar Girls (previously named The Girls), the award winning musical comedy, which received five star reviews in London’s West End, is now available to own on CD. You can order your copy HERE. (05/03/18)
CALENDAR GIRLS is currently touring Italy again. The stage comedy last toured Italy in 2015 and sold out at each of the 208 performances across 80 cities. This production, with Angela Finocchiaro, Laura Curino, Ariella Reggio and directed by Cristina Pezzoli, will run in various towns and cities, finishing with a weeks run in Rome on April 15th. We will have the dates and venues on the WHAT'SON page shortly. (21/02/18)
New cast members for CALENDAR GIRLS - The Musical have been announced. Fern Britton (TV presenter) will play Marie. She will be joined by Anna-Jane Casey (Billy Elliot, Annie Get Your Gun) as Annie, Lorraine Bruce (Piaf, Donmar) as Cora, Sara Crowe (The Safari Party, Hay Fever) as Ruth, Ruth Madoc (Gypsy) as Jessie, Rebecca Storm (Blood Brothers) as Chris and Denise Welch (The Wind in the Willows) as Celia. (07/02/18)
Manchester's cultural heavyweights gathered last night to find out the winners of the CityLife Awards 2018. The public voted in their thousands across the ten categories to select the winners and chose THE BAND as the Best Theatre Event. (30/01/18)
Hot off the press - the new UK tour dates for CALENDAR GIRLS - The Musical. The dates are listed on the WHAT'S ON page and also via the official website which is HERE. (19/01/18)
Tim Firth and Gary Barlow last night announced the release of the CD of ‘Calendar Girls the Musical' Soundtrack Album. This original cast recording of The Calendar Girls - the musical, which received five star reviews in London’s West End, is now available to own on CD. The double CD is out on March 9th and is available now to pre-order. You can pre-order HERE, just in time for Mother's Day. (13/01/18)
Tim Firth and Gary Barlow had some exciting news about ‘Calendar Girls the Musical’, last night. You can watch it now on YouTube HERE. (13/01/18)
The TAKE THAT musical THE BAND has become the fastest selling musical theatre tour of all time.
Extra new dates have been added which take the tour right through until Spring 2019. You can see the dates and venues on the WHAT'SON page and on the show's website HERE where you can also buy tickets. (11/01/18)
In a Radio Times poll of the 50 Greatest Children's TV shows, ROGER AND THE ROTTENTROLLS came in at 36. The RT said, "More rotten puppet action in the valley of Troller's Ghyll, where young Roger fell of his bike and met the Rottentrolls - a charming bunch of three-foot high creatures who stopped squabbling long enough to make him their king." Tim wrote all 39 episodes of the four series, based on stories originally told to him by his dad, Gordon. (11/01/18)
Both The Band and Our House nominated for Best Regional Production. The Band is also nominated for Best Musical, Our House's George Sampson for Best Supporting Actor and Our House's Fabian Aloise for Best Choreography. (03/12/17)
‘The band were largely under the impression that the story would be a biography of Take That. What had in fact emerged was a story about songs’... writes Tim this week in the i newspaper. The article is on-line and you can read it HERE 22/09/17)
TAKE THAT present their brand new musical THE BAND featuring the winners of BBCs Let it Shine.
The new musical written by Tim Firth with the music of TAKE THAT will tour across the UK and opens on 8th September. Check out the show's website HERE where you can also buy tickets. (4/09/17)
The cast for OUR HOUSE, produced by Immersion Theatre and Damian Tracey Productions, touring from August has been announced. George Sampson (Reecey), Deena Payne (Kath Casey),
Jason Kajdi (Joe Casey),
Sophie Matthew ( Sarah ) and
Callum McCardle (Dad) will take the lead roles. The full cast is listed on the OUR HOUSE page HERE. The musical, written by Tim and featuring music by Madness, will open at the Lyceum Theatre in Crewe on 10th August before touring. You can find the dates on Tim's WHAT'S ON page. (15/05/17)
The Olivier Award-winning musical OUR HOUSE, produced by Immersion Theatre and Damian Tracey Productions, will embark on a new UK tour later this year. We have added a video of their recent photoshoot on the OUR HOUSE page HERE. The musical, written by Tim and featuring music by Madness, will open in Crewe in August before touring. You can find the dates on Tim's WHAT'S ON page. (15/05/17)
The Olivier Awards were held last night (Sunday 9th April) at the Royal Albert Hall. The night kicked off with a performance from Gary Barlow and Tim Firth and the Olivier nominated cast of THE GIRLS and the Women's Institute Choir. Highlights of the evening will be broadcast tomorrow evening (11th April) on ITV from 8pm-10pm. (10/04/17)  and... if you missed it, catch up HERE
Tim Firth and Gary Barlow offically launched their new musical on Sunday at the Manchester Apollo. TAKE THAT present their brand new musical THE BAND featuring the winners of BBCs Let it Shine.
The new musical written by Tim Firth with the music of TAKE THAT will tour across the UK from 8 September 2017. Tickets for the opening show are now on sale. You can watch a video of the Manchester show HERE on YouTube, and the show's new website is now on-line HERE. (3/04/17)
Tim and Gary held a question and answer session after Tuesday evenings' show of THE GIRLS. It seems most of the audience at the Phoenix theatre in the West End stayed to listen. Fortunately, it was recorded and is available to watch HERE. (23/03/17)
Tim, Gary and Joanna Riding performed at the What'sOnStage Awards ceremony last night where THE GIRLS (National tour) won the Best Regional Production Award. (26/02/17)
"If you think that "wiping away tears of laughter and sorrow" is one those activities that, like "rolling in the aisles", only happens in reviews, you give should this show a visit. I suspect that it's going to be on a long time. " Just a couple of the critics comments for Tim and Gary Barlow's THE GIRLS musical on at the Phoenix in London's West End. You can read what the papers said HERE. (22/02/17)
Tim Firth and Gary Barlow were interviewed by Kirsty Lang on BBC Radio4s Front Row on Friday. If you missed the programme you can hear the interview again HERE. (20/02/17)
Tim talks extensively about his early influences, his friendship with Gary Barlow, gives his tips for aspiring writers and about THE GIRLS, the new musical which is running at the Phoenix in London's West End to packed audiences. You can read the full article HERE. (17/02/17)
The previews for Tim Firth and Gary Barlow's THE GIRLS musical begin this Saturday 28th January! The new musical comedy follows the true story of the Yorkshire CALENDAR GIRLS, a group of ordinary ladies who achieved something extraordinary. The play runs until 22nd April. You can buy tickets by visiting the website HERE, or by phoning the Box Office: 0844 871 7629. Please note: In a break from theatre tradition there will be no booking fees on ticket sales. (27/01/17)
LET IT SHINE is the new BBC talent show putting individuals through their paces, to create a band who will join the cast of a brand new stage show featuring the music of Take That. The opening song, written by Tim Firth & Gary Barlow, was featured on the first show. If you missed it you can catch it HERE. (11/01/17)
The cast of THE GIRLS, together with Tim Firth and Gary Barlow, performed at the Royal Variety Performance last Tuesday evening (6th Dec). The show will be broadcast on ITV on Tuesday December 13 from 7.30pm until 10.05pm. The full show is available to stream on the ITV Hub. See the CATCH-UP section on the WHAT'S ON page. (8/12/16)
The cast of THE GIRLS, together with Tim Firth and Gary Barlow, will be performing at this years Royal Command Performance this coming Tuesday evening (6th Dec). The Royal Variety Performance will be screened on ITV at a date yet to be announced. (4/12/16)
The Olivier Award-winning musical OUR HOUSE will embark on a new UK tour next year. The musical, written by Tim and featuring music by Madness, will open in Crewe on 10 August 2017 before touring. You can find the dates on Tim's WHAT'S ON page. (19/11/16)
Elaine Paige will play exclusive songs from THE GIRLS musical, including the track SCARBOROUGH, this afternoon on her Radio2 programme.
Elaine Paige on Sunday | 6th November | Radio2 | 1pm |. (6/11/16) and... if you missed it, catch up HERE
The cast of THE GIRLS, written by Tim Firth and Gary Barlow, have been asked to perform at this years Royal Command Performance. The Royal Variety Performance will take place on Tuesday, December 6, and will be screened on ITV in December. (3/11/16)
Hot off the press is the news that Gary Barlow and the cast of THE GIRLS will perform on BBC TV's, STRICTLY COME DANCING on 6th November (Please note a change of date). Don't miss it: BBC1 | 7.15pm | Sunday 6th November. (27/10/16) and... if you missed it, catch up HERE
THE GIRLS is inspired by the true story of a group of ladies, who decide to appear nude for a Women’s Institute calendar in order to raise funds to buy a settee for their local hospital, in memory of one of their husbands, and have to date raised over £4million for Bloodwise. This musical comedy shows life in their Yorkshire village, how it happened, the effect on husbands, sons and daughters, and how a group of ordinary ladies achieved something extraordinary.
Gary Barlow and Tim Firth grew up in the same village in the north of England and have been friends for 25 years. With Take That, Gary has written and co-written 14 number one singles, has sold over 50 million records worldwide and is a six times Ivor Novello Award winner. Tim has won the Olivier Award and UK Theatre Award for Best New Musical, and the British Comedy Awards Best Comedy Film for Calendar Girls.
For Gary Barlow and Tim Firth’s personal thoughts on the musical, please watch this video: HERE
 THE GIRLS will be directed by Tim Firth, with musical staging by Lizzi Gee, comedy staging by Jos Houben, design by Robert Jones, lighting design by Tim Lutkin, sound design by Terry Jardine and Nick Lidster, musical direction and orchestrations by Richard Beadle, with casting by Sarah Bird, and associate producer is U-Live.
THE GIRLS will be produced by David Pugh & Dafydd Rogers and The Shubert Organization.
Bloodwise, the UK’s specialist blood cancer charity, will receive monies from this production.
You can get tickets from midday today by visiting the website HERE, or by phoning the Box Office: 0844 871 7629. Please note: In a break from theatre tradition there will be NO booking fees on ticket sales. (16/09/16) |
The Italian production of CALENDAR GIRLS by theatre company Agidi Srl which initially planned a five month run throughout Italy now continues to tour until the end of November 2016. The production stars Angela Finocchiaro and Laura Curino, and is directed by Cristina Pezzoli. The show, which is translated and adapted by Stefania Bertola, opened in Faenza in October 2015
and will continue until the end of 2016. More information on the WHATS' ON page. (07/10/15)
The news this week is that fourteen months after Tim Firth and Gary Barlow put on a show called THE GIRLS in a village hall in Burnshall, North Yorkshire, it has found itself a West End home. Based on Tim's story for the film Calendar Girls, about the Rylstone and District WI, THE GIRLS will open in January 2017 at the Phoenix Theatre. Tim Firth and Gary Barlow said, "It's been a little like tending a sunflower, from seeding it in Yorkshire to now seeing it bloom in London's West End." Casting is being negotiated and tickets will go on sale on September 16th at noon. Stay tuned for further news. (27/05/16)
 As THE GIRLS completes its run at Leeds and Manchester, the total figure raised from bucket collections by volunteers and members of the cast, at the end of each performance, has now reached a staggering £58,000. The money raised will go to Bloodwise, the blood cancer charity. The musical, based on the Calendar Girls and written by Tim Firth and Gary Barlow, ran for 60 shows, all completely sold-out, all with standing ovations, and was seen by 100,000 people. 30% of the audience who saw the show more than once! In fact one keen member of the audience saw it 13 times.
Watch this space....(03/02/16)
Whilst the cast from THE GIRLS take a well-earned rest over the Christmas holidays, it's been announced that £26,000 has been raised from bucket collections at each performance of the musical at Leeds Grand Theatre. The money is being donated to Bloodwise, the blood cancer charity. Volunteers from the charity were joined by cast members, theatre staff and local supporters as they held bucket collections after each show. Tim Firth adds: “This is an extraordinary fundraising figure so far and if this continues at any rate in Manchester, we could see a truly special total raised for Bloodwise.” You can read the reviews for the musical on THE GIRLS page HERE, which will move to the Lowry in Salford from 8th to 30th January in the New Year. (03/01/16)
This Christmas, Ambridge Drama Queen Lynda Snell is producing Tim Firth’s much loved comedy drama, Calendar Girls. Calendar Girls will be a fully produced Radio 4 drama that can be enjoyed by fans of radio drama and Archers listeners alike... This version of Calendar Girls will be the radio premiere of the story that took the world by storm as a successful film and a hugely successful play. You can hear Calendar Girls on BBC Radio 4 on Sunday 27th December at 7:15pm, and again on Monday 28th December at 2:15pm. (26/11/15)
THE MUSICALThe cast for THE GIRLS has been announced. Harriet Thorpe will play Marie, Debbie Chazen as Ruth, Sara Kestelman as Jessie, Claire Machin as Cora, Claire Moore as Chris, Vivien Parry as Celia and Joanna Riding will play Annie. In addition three young actors also feature in the musical. Chloe May Jackson will play Jenny. Danny and Tommo, the sons of two of the Calendar Girls, will be played by Ben Hunter and Josh Benson. Other cast members are Stephen Boswell as Colin, Joe Caffrey as Rod, Jeremy Clyde as Denis, Susan Fay as Brenda, Steve Giles as Lawrence. Richard Huw as John, Shirley Jameson as Miss Wilson, Judith Street as Lady Cravenshire and Karen West as the other Miss Wilson.
The musical comedy shows life in their Yorkshire village, how it happened, the effect on husbands, sons and daughters and how a group of ordinary ladies achieved something extraordinary. THE GIRLS opens at the Leeds Grand Theatre on the 14th November. As usual there is more information on the WHAT'S ON page. (24/10/15)
Lynda Snell, from Radio4s 'everyday story of country folk', THE ARCHERS, has announced that the Ambridge Christmas Show will be... CALENDAR GIRLS. The current episodes are full of speculation about who will be cast in this, the latest of Lynda's Christmas Spectaculars! (19/10/15)
The Italian production of CALENDAR GIRLS by theatre company Agidi Srl will begin its five month tour next month and runs through until March 2016. The production will star Angela Finocchiaro and Laura Curino, and is directed by Cristina Pezzoli. The show, translated and adapted by Stefania Bertola, opens in Faenza on 16 October with a gala night in Milan on 11 November. For more information on the dates and venues please visit the WHAT’S ON page.
(25/09/15)
OUR HOUSE, currently playing at London's Union Theatre continues to receive good reviews. Last night Mark Shenton, the theatre critic, tweeted (link)– “Just made a welcome return visit to @TheUnionTheatre's OUR HOUSE after only seeing 1st half last night! And definitely worth seeing it all!” OUR HOUSE will run until 12th September, so there is still time to catch it if you haven't seen this MADNESS musical. More information on the WHAT'S ON PAGE. (30/08/15)
"Firth’s play may deal in familiar types – the obnoxious one, the religious one, the bully and the mediator – but the performances elicit sympathy and revulsion in equal measure as civilised behaviour breaks down with worries, hang-ups, neuroses, rivalries and the fate of a sausage … coming to the fore as the situation grows ever darker." Say’s TheStage website, and Director Henry Bell said: “Tim Firth has a mastery of tone and Neville’s Island is very, very funny but it can really shock an audience too. It also deals with big ideas while observing the more mundane elements of human life. Neville’s Island runs at the SJT until 27 August. More information on the WHAT'S ON page. (13/08/15)
THE STEPHEN JOSEPH THEATRE 60TH CELEBRATIONS
Tim Firth's play Nevilles Island, first seen at Westwood in 1992, was nominated for the Evening Standard and Olivier Awards for Best Comedy. The Safari Party was directed by Alan Ayckbourn at both the SJT and at Hampstead Theatre. It seems only natural that Tim Firth should help celebrate the 60th Anniversary of this great theatre. Tim's conversation is on 15 July. The SJT Box Office number is: 01723 370541
CALENDAR GIRLS is being produced in Italy by theatre company Agidi Srl and will star Angela Finocchiaro. The production will be touring Italy over the Winter and opens in Faenza this October. There is a gala night in Milan in November. In addition The Hämeenlinnan Teatteri, in Finland, will produce CALENDAR GIRLS and the opening is planned for September 2016. Talks are underway to produce NEVILLE’S ISLAND in China in Mandarin, by the National Theatre of China in the 2016/2017 season. More news when we have it… (18/05/15)
THE MUSICALTHE GIRLS is a new musical inspired by the story of a group of ladies, the Calendar Girls. This musical comedy shows life in their Yorkshire village, how it happened, the effect on husbands, sons and daughters and how a group of ordinary ladies achieved something extraordinary. Gary Barlow and Tim Firth both grew up in the same village and have been friends for twenty five years. Gary has written 14 number one singles, is 6 times winner of the Ivor Novello Award and has sold over 50 million records worldwide. Tim has won the Olivier Award and the UK Theatre Award for Best Musical and Best Play and the Comedy Film Award for Calendar Girls. THE GIRLS will premiere at Leeds Grand Theatre from Saturday 14 November. (24/03/15)
" ...the true test of a play is when it can hold a full theatre spellbound with just the power of the writing and the performances of the actors, happily this beautifully staged production is just such a show. ", is how Andrew Clarke describes SIGN OF THE TIMES at the Theatre Royal, Bury St. Edmunds. The roof-top action runs until tomorrow (31st) at the Theatre Royal, before moving onto the Rose Theatre, Kingston and The New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich. You can read the full reviews HERE. More information on the 'News Page'. (30/01/15)
SIGN OF THE TIMES starring Robert Gill as Frank and Thomas Pickles as Alan, opens this Thursday (22nd January) at the Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds. Tim’s comedy is directed by Karen Simpson, and runs until Saturday 31st January. You can find more information and links to book tickets HERE. (20/01/15)
The first American production of CALENDAR GIRLS took place last month. The Sullivan Players in San Diego, directed by DJ Sullivan, were the first to showcase CALENDAR GIRLS across the Atlantic. Over forty (40) more amateur and professional productions are planned over the coming two years. For American visitors to the website, please let us know your upcoming productions as we plan to list as many as possible on the WHAT’S ON page. (02/12/14)
The song THINGS THAT MEN DON'T SAY from Tim's musical THIS IS MY FAMILY was featured on the Elaine
Paige show on Radio 2 on Sunday 26 October. You can listen again HERE on iPlayer. (27/10/14)
The production of Neville’s Island marking the play’s return to the West End, 20 years after it was first seen in London, has produced some wonderful reviews from the press. " Four highly talented comic actors delivering a superb script on the most breathtaking set I’ve ever seen used for a play, make for a fantastic evening’s entertainment ... ", is what Terry Eastham from LondonTheatre1.com wrote. You can read the full review HERE. (22/10/14)
The ability to be funny and believable in the same breath is perhaps the most underrated talent in the field of dramatic art. It is so often overlooked, so often overshadowed by its more tragic relatives, so often perceived as merely the careful baton-pass of comic words from writer to audience. All writers who have seen comic endeavours go astray in the hands of actors will bear testament to how comforting it feels sharing custody with someone in whose hands no beat will be missed, no line misinterpreted. In this respect our gallery of custodians is today depleted. TIM FIRTH (20/10/14)
WhatsOnStage and The Stage websites both give Tim's musical THIS IS MY FAMILY four stars and Sophie Bush, of WhatsOnStage, says of the production “… the minutiae of family life is nicely observed, and cleverly recreated in Tim Firth's expertly layered score and lyrics. “ and “All in all, a very enjoyable production. “ You can read the reviews in full HERE. The musical runs until Saturday 18th October at Sheffield Lyceum, ahead of a national tour - details on Tim's WHAT'S ON page. (15/10/14)
This Is My Family and Neville’s Island open on consecutive days - today and tomorrow. This Is My Family returns to Sheffield, this time at the Lyceum Theatre from Thursday 9th – Saturday 18th October, ahead of a national tour - details on Tim's WHAT'S ON page. Neville’s Island will run at the Duke of York’s Theatre from 10th October 2014 to 3rd January 2015. (09/10/14)
This production of Neville’s Island marks the play’s return to the West End, 20 years after it was first seen in London. The comedy, directed by Angus Jackson, features Adrian Edmondson (reprising his performance as Gordon from the original run at Chichester last year), Miles Jupp (Angus), Neil Morrissey (Neville) and Robert Webb (Roy) as the four shipwrecked businessmen. The play will run at the Duke of York’s Theatre from 10th October 2014 to 3rd January 2015. Tickets are on sale now and you can find out more HERE. (29/08/14)
This Is My Family returns to Sheffield's Lyceum Theatre from Thursday 9 – Saturday 18 October, ahead of a national tour to Royal & Derngate Northampton, Belgrade Theatre Coventry, Liverpool Playhouse and The New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich. Clare Burt (Yvonne), Bill Champion (Steve), Evelyn Hoskins (Nicky), Terence Keeley (Matt) and Rachel Lumberg (Sian) reprise their roles from the original run, and are joined by Marjorie Yates as May to complete the company. See the WHAT'S ON page for more details. (09/07/14)
Tim’s TV drama film Timeless starring Cara Delavingne and Sylvia Syms, will air on Sky Arts Thursday19 June at 9:00pm. Alice and Chloe may be generations apart but both share the pain of having been separated from their partners by war. Chloe’s soldier fiancé is serving a term of duty in Afghanistan when an army official arrives at Alice’s door. The two women are shocked by the news but the generation gap is finally closing. Timeless is a co-production between Baby Cow and Stone Face Productions. Also available On Demand. (17/06/14)
This Is My Family, which returns to Sheffield's Lyceum Theatre in (9 - 18) October, will tour UK theatres during late October and November. Confirmed venues so far are the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry and The New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich. More details HERE. (16/05/14)
Samuel French: United States of America has announced a two year window for USA performances of Calendar Girls. For further information please contact Samuel French USA HERE. (21/05/14)
The original and inspirational Yorkshire Ladies will be hosting an exclusive after-show party to celebrate the end of the am drams shows and recognise the Calendar Girls spirit demonstrated by amateur thespians who dared to bare all up and down the country.
The afternoon will also provide the perfect opportunity to recognise your friends and fellow cast members with our first ever Calendar Girls Awards. Tim and The Girls will be presenting five unique awards cast members have the opportunity to nominate someone special for three of them. The ‘Afternoon Tea Calendar Girls’ stage show, will take place on Sunday 11 May at the Pavilions of Harrogate, Great Yorkshire Showground. More details and booking HERE (19/03/14)
Tim's award-winning musical comedy takes to the Lyceum stage, Sheffield, later in the year following its sell-out run in the Studio Theatre last year. The show, which was named 'Best Musical' at last year’s UK Theatre Awards, will run from 9th through till 18th October. (18/03/14)
Sky Arts are filming Tim's short film for their Playhouse season. It is called TIMELESS and will star Sylvia Syms and Cara Delevingne as a young war fiance and her great gran who one day get a knock on the door which turns their lives upside down and blows apart the age gap which separates them. It will be filmed in the UK and Iceland and broadcast in June. (27/02/14)
THIS IS MY FAMILY by Tim Firth, which opened at the Sheffield Crucible in June, was named best musical at this year’s UK Theatre Awards, which reward the best of British regional theatre. The cast included Sian Phillips, who won best supporting performance. You can read the full account of the awards HERE. (20/10/13)
Tim Firth and Calendar Girls director Nigel Cole are reuniting on new action comedy DAYLIGHT ROBBERY, about a group of British retirees planning a bank heist. The story is about a group of feisty pensioners who are hit by the financial crisis and plan to rob a bank to save one friend who is on the verge of losing her home. The film will start shooting on England’s south coast in early 2014. (17/10/13)
" Our House is the best but also one of the most underrated of the bunch (Musicals), despite winning the 2003 Olivier Award for Best Musical. " So reads Mark Shenton's latest review of OUR HOUSE on TheStage website. You can read the full review HERE. OUR HOUSE tours the UK through until the end of November and you can see the theatres the musical will visit on the What'sOn Page. (01/10/13)
THIS IS MY FAMILY, Tim Firth's first musical, has been nominated for Best Musical Production at the 2013 UK Theatre Awards. Siân Phillips has also been nominated for Best Supporting Performance. THIS IS MY FAMILY was
directed by Daniel Evans and ran in the summer at Sheffield Theatres. (26/09/13)
Charles Spencer of The Telegraph tells us that he would be astonished if NEVILLE'S ISLAND, like so many Chichester productions in recent years, doesn’t transfer speedily to the West End, continuing with "The performances are first rate." The comedy runs until 28th September and the Chichester Theatre has expanded the seating to accommodate a thousand audience members for each performance. You can read the full review HERE. (24/09/13)
Rufus Hound (Roy), Ade Edmondson (Gordon), John Marquez (Neville) and
Tim McMullan (Angus) are confirmed as the four out-of-condition, middle-aged businessmen, to become the first people ever to get shipwrecked on an island in the Lake District! NEVILLE'S ISLAND, in a new revival at Chichester this month, will be staged in The Theatre in the Park from 11th – 28th September and will be directed by Angus Jackson. (27/08/13)
The cast for the OUR HOUSE revival which opens in Ipswich on 12 September before touring to venues nationwide, has been announced. The cast will be led by Alexis Gerred as Joe Casey, Daniella Bowen as Sarah, Sean Needham as Joe's Dad, Rebecca Bainbridge as Kath Casey, Alex Spinney as Lewis, James Haggie as Emmo, Dominique Planter as Angie, Lloyd Gorman as Reecey and Steve Dorsett as Mr Pressman. Directed by Peter Rowe, the show will run until late November at various theatres across the UK. (30/07/13)
Samuel French Ltd have announced that the number of licences issued for CALENDAR GIRLS has reached the 600 mark! The 600th licence was issued to Teignmouth Players for their shows at the Carlton Theatre beginning on the 5th September. This record breaking number will bring the tally of productions up to 2573 licensed performances. (25/07/13)
Tim Firth will be one of the speakers at this years London Screenwriters' Festival which runs from 25th-27th October at The London School of Film, Media & Performance. You can find more information on their website HERE. (24/07/13)
You may remember that late last year we featured plans to organise a CALENDAR GIRLS BALL. AmateurStage magazine recently spoke to Laura Kenward about her plans to organise this, the biggest CALENDAR GIRLS after show party ever. You can read the full article HERE. (23/07/13)
As Tim Firth’s first musical finishes its run the news is that it is the most successful production in the history of the Sheffield Crucible Studio. As for further plans, we will keep the website posted as to news of the show's future. (21/07/13)
It's with real sadness that everyone involved with the stage play CALENDAR GIRLS learned about the death of Bernie Nolan this week. If she was as much a beacon of fun and optimism in other spheres of her life as she was in that company then she will be sorely missed.
TIM FIRTH (07/07/13)
As the theatre marquee goes up in Oaklands Park, Chichester, Rufus Hound and Ade Edmondson are confirmed to head the cast of NEVILLE'S ISLAND in a new revival at Chichester later in the year. Tim’s 'comedy in a thick fog’ will be staged in The Theatre in the Park from 11th – 28th September and will be directed by Angus Jackson. (05/07/13)
Tim's play, currently playing at Hull Truck Theatre, is gathering some great reviews. "There aren’t many dramas which capture as honestly, or as amusingly, the struggle towards happiness." says THE STAGE on its website. The comedy, which features Andrew Dunn and Edward Cole runs until 20th July. You can read the full review HERE. (02/07/13)
Libby Purves, writing in The Times loved THIS IS MY FAMILY. She writes, "This is enchanting: sweet as a nut, funny, truthful, glorying in grumpy family love." And Michael Billington, in The Guardian said, "Firth creates genuinely funny characters without patronising them." You can read all the reviews HERE on Tim Firth's website. (26/06/13)
The Stage's Mark Shenton is one of the first to review Tim's new musical comedy THIS IS MY FAMILY running now at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre through until 20th July. The whole ensemble receives Mark’s praise with... "Firth supports with his own music that switches seamlessly between speech and song. His songs are delightfully conversational and his jokes are poetically musical." and "Daniel Evans harnesses the evocative shifts of mood and melody in this sincere, touching show that is beautifully played throughout, both onstage and beside it (the house band)". You can read the full review HERE on TheStage.co.uk website. (25/06/13)
BBC Arts reporter Ian Youngs interviews Tim about his new musical comedy THIS IS MY FAMILY for a feature on the BBC website HERE. The musical, which opens at Sheffield's Crucible Studio tonight (19 June), will run until 20 July. You can also read the full interview, along with more details of the show, on our new THIS IS MY FAMILY page HERE. (19/06/13)
After a successful run in March this year, Kalendar Girls will return to Comödie Theatre, Dresden in 2014. Tickets are on sale now and you can follow the Girls on their facebook page HERE. More details on the WHAT'S ON page. (17/06/13)
Last week Tim Firth spoke to the Yorkshire Post about his new musical comedy, THIS IS MY FAMILY. In the article Tim talks about his relationship with musical theatre, “I love certain musicals and find others hard to sit through, but I had always mulled over the idea of writing one.” You can read the full article and find out more about his new show HERE. (10/06/13)
What's On Stage Ron Simpson talks to Tim Firth and THIS IS MY FAMILY Director Daniel Evans for a feature on its website. Tim talks about how his brand new musical seemed to tell itself most naturally through songs. You can read the article on the WHATSONSTAGE website HERE. Tickets can be bought direct from the Sheffield Theatres website HERE or the Box Office on 0114 249 6000. (05/06/13)
A new production of OUR HOUSE - The Madness Musical will tour the UK this Autumn. The production, by New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich, will be directed by Peter Rowe. The musical - music by Madness and written by Tim Firth - which was winner of the 2003 Olivier Award for Best New Musical, will visit several theatres across the country throughout September, October and November. More details on the 'WHAT'S ON' page. (03/06/13)
Clare Burt has joined the cast of Tim’s new Musical Comedy THIS IS MY FAMILY which opens at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre in June. Clare is a member of the National Theatre and her West End musical roles include Grizabella in Cats and Rose Vibert in Aspects of Love. Tickets are on sale now and can be bought direct from the Sheffield Theatres website HERE or by phoning the Box Office on 0114 249 6000. (10/05/13)
Calendar Girls will premiere in Dresden, Germany this evening (Friday 8th March) at the Comödie Theatre. The show runs until the 30 March. (08/03/13)
Chichester Festival Theatre will produce a major new revival of NEVILLE’S ISLAND later this year – in a marquee! To explain: Whilst the Festival Theatre is closed for redevelopment work, a state of the Art auditorium - The Theatre in the Park - will appear in the form of a vast tented village on Oaklands Park in Chichester. Tim’s comedy will be staged in The Theatre in the Park from 11 – 28 September and will be directed by Angus Jackson. More details soon… (24/02/13)
June and July will see the Hull Truck Theatre present Tim Firth's SIGN OF THE TIMES. The cast and production team have not yet been announced, but we will have the details here on Tim's website shortly. SIGN OF THE TIMES will run from 27 June through until 20 July. (07/02/13)
We've added several new reviews of CALENDAR GIRLS productions to the Amateur Groups Reviews page. If your group has recently produced one of Tim's plays, we would like to invite you to send TimFirth.com any reviews of your performance. See Amateur Groups Reviews HERE. (04/01/13)
2012 was a significant year for CALENDAR GIRLS. The number of countries producing the hit stage play rose to twenty one. They include Germany, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Israel, Greece, Argentina, France, Czech Republic, Belgium, Holland, Hungary, Poland, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Russia, Bulgaria and Slovakia. The stage play broke box office records wherever it played, achieved the highest ever audience for a single performance of a play, and the Amateur Rights were snapped up by over 500 Amateur Dramatic groups across the country – and indeed the world. (26/12/12)
The DVD of Tim Firth's latest film, THE WEDDING VIDEO, goes on sale on 7th January. You can pre-order now from your favourite on-line seller, or, of course, buy it with some of those vouchers you'll be receiving in your Christmas Stocking!! (21/12/12)
Tickets for Tim's brand new musical comedy, THIS IS MY FAMILY, go on sale Saturday - 17th November. They can be bought direct from the Sheffield Theatres website HERE or by phoning the Box Office on 0114 249 6000. (13/11/12)
Several of the girls who have already performed their roles, are planning to continue fundraising to combat this 'cheating, sly, conniving, silent bloody disease that cancer is'... One of the plans is to have a huge fundraising party next year (pencil in 28th September). They have set-up a facebook page for all you enthusiastic ladies (and gents) to keep in touch and find out more as the event unfolds. Tim Firth and several of the 'real' CALENDAR GIRLS are confirmed to appear already! If you are interested in supporting this event please contact the organiser Laura at laurakenward@yahoo.co.uk or get in contact via the facebook page.
The Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research charity has set-up a facebook page, ‘I’m in a production of Calendar Girls’. So if you are on facebook, click to join the discussion group. (11/11/12)
The announcement was made this week by Sheffield Theatres that the Crucible will be staging the premiere of Tim Firth's new musical comedy. The premiere of THIS IS MY FAMILY, will take place at Sheffield Theatres next summer and will be directed by Daniel Evans. Running from 24 June to 20 July (previews from 20 June), the show centres on a teenager who enters a writing competition to win a holiday for her dysfunctional family. Is there any place on earth she could take them that might make a difference? THIS IS MY FAMILY will star: Bill Champion (Steve), Evelyn Hoskins (Nicky),Terence Keeley (Matt), Rachel Lumberg (Sian) and Sian Phillips (May). (03/11/12)
Casting for the special one-off OUR HOUSE – the Musical in Concert is finalised. Alistair McGowan, EastEnders’ Tameka Empson and former Coronation Street star Wendi Peters are announced to join Madness frontman, Suggs in the 10th anniversary concert of the musical OUR HOUSE at the Savoy Theatre in aid of Help for Heroes on Sunday 11th November. Tickets are selling fast and you can get them by calling 0844 871 7687 or from the website HERE. (26/10/12)
Last night's BBC show (Wednesday 24th) showcased several of the Amateur Dramatics Groups who have, or about to perform CALENDAR GIRLS across the UK. Angela Baker, one of the original CALENDAR GIRLS, was interviewed and lots of girls came into the studio and were interviewed by Jake Humphrey. You can watch on BBCs iPlayer HERE. (25/10/12)
Tim Firth.com has a new section for Amateur Groups to send us reviews of their performances. You will find the link from Amateur Groups Forum. (22/10/12)
The acclaimed and award winning musical, OUR HOUSE, will enjoy a return to the West End in November. It has been announced that “OUR HOUSE” will make its way to the Savoy Theatre in November, ten years after it originally appeared on London's West End. Suggs will star as Joe's dad and the show's original creative teamm, Tim Firth (writer) Matthew Warcus (Director) and Rob Howell (Designer) will be re-united for this one-off performance. The show is at the Savoy Theatre on Sunday 11th November and tickets are on sale now from the Show's website. www.ourhouseinconcert.com. (08/10/12)
The Daily Mail ran a feature on the new CALENDAR GIRLS a few days ago. The article showcased various productions around the country and spoke to some of the Calendar Girls. You can read the article HERE. (10/09/12)
The year and a half of amateur Calendar Girls begins!
"The very first amateur production takes place this Friday in the village of Grassington, the village where the actual story took place. As my best wishes go out to that cast, so too to all the women who will undertake the show over the coming months. Whatever the merits of Calendar Girls as a play, perhaps the unique factor is that to perform the play requires the exact bravery and group spirit as did the original endeavour. Every night you perform Calendar Girls you in some way repeat that first night in Grassington. This perhaps is unique. So may your backstages all be warm, may you break legs, hearts, may your buns remain resolute and your Jerusalems full-blooded. Thanks from me to each and every calendar girl across the country, and indeed across the world. Let me know how you fare. God speed." From Tim Firth (30/08/12)
In the week since Tim Firth's new film THE WEDDING VIDEO was released, it has been gathering great reviews. The film is a comedy set in the cut throat world of English society weddings and records this particular one spiralling out of control. You can read about the film and the reviews HERE. THE WEDDING VIDEO is showing at cinemas now. (26/08/12)
This mornings edition of Breakfast on BBC television ran a feature on the upcoming Grassington Amateur Dramatics groups performance of CALENDAR GIRLS. If you missed it, you can catch up via IPlayer on the BBC website HERE. (21/08/12)
Join the celebration for the Calendar Girls' big finale, Seasons of Love at the Royal Albert Hall. After 13 incredible years, the Yorkshire ladies are being celebrated in true celebrity style to mark the end of their incredible fundraising journey which has seen them raise over £3million for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research. Tim Firth, the co-writer of the Calendar Girls film and the author of the hugely successful stage show will be onstage alongside many other celebrities, and of course the real Calendar Girls themselves. The event takes place at the Royal Albert Hall on Sunday 7 October 2012. Tickets from RAH website HERE. (17/08/12)
Tim Firth.com has a new look. There is still a little tweaking to do here and there so you may spot a few alterations during the next few days, but we are confident that the changes will make the site easier to enjoy and easier on the eye. We hope you like the new format. (17/08/12)
Tim Firth's new film THE WEDDING VIDEO is released Friday 17th August. THE WEDDING VIDEO is a comedy set in the cut throat world of English society weddings.
RAIF (Rufus Hound) is a shambolic oaf with a unique sense of humour who is suddenly asked to be his brother’s best man. His present to the happy couple, he decides, will be a video of their wedding. He returns from abroad to meet brother TIM (Robert Webb) for the first time in years and his fiancé SASKIA (Lucy Punch). His film is THE WEDDING VIDEO – the final edited version with music, live action, interviews, the works. Catch it at a cinema near you. (17/08/12)
'Oh! The bare-faced cheek of it: Release of amateur rights to stage 'Calendar Girls' sparks record' runs the headline in today's Independent newspaper. The paper runs the story about how the release of the amateur rights to stage CALENDAR GIRLS has sparked unprecedented interest from theatre groups across the country. To date 847 licences have been granted to perform Tim's play CALENDAR GIRLS . READ THE ARTICLE IN FULL HERE. (05/08/12)
The Olivier Award winning musical OUR HOUSE will open at the Rozrywka Theatre in Chorzow this Autumn. The Rozrywka, one of the leading musical theatres in Poland, was the first theatre in Poland to produce Evita, Rocky Horror, The Producers, West Side Story and Oliver. Dates are not confirmed yet, but as soon as they become available we'll add them to the WHAT'S ON PAGE HERE. (21/06/12)
Nearly 500 Amateur Dramatics groups are preparing to take CALENDAR GIRLS to the boards in Village Halls and Community Centres across the country. Last Sunday's edition of the Sunday Express ran a feature on the hit stage show which has been released to AmDram groups for the first time. Read the article by clicking the image on the left. (17/05/12)
Tim Firth's SIGN OF THE TIMES is now published by Samuel French. SIGN OF THE TIMES is a full-length comedy based on Tim’s one-act play A Man of Letters. In 2011 it starred Matthew Kelly as Frank at London’s Duchess Theatre when the Guardian called it “sensational” and the Daily Telegraph said “excellent ... splendidly funny and touching". (15/05/12)
CALENDAR GIRLS continues to break records at theatres across the UK. At the Grimsby Auditorium in early March the stage play broke the theatre's all-time box office record and at Canterbury, the show broke the record for a play. And as announced earlier, such is the demand to see the show, a new set of dates has been announced running through to November 2012. WHAT'S ON PAGE HERE. (01/04/12)
A four month long tour of The Netherlands has been announced. The production will visit all major venues in Holland, begins 29th January and runs through to 19th May. For more information click here for a pdf of the tour schedule. (17/01/12)
The Flint Street Nativity written by Tim Firth, has become the biggest-selling single run of any play in Hull Truck history. The show, which has been running since the start of December is set in a fictional Hull school and follows the exploits of a class preparing for their annual nativity show. The Flint Street Nativity features a ten-strong cast including James Holmes from the BAFTA winning BBC comedy Miranda and rising Hull comedy star Lucy Beaumont. Tim Firth, writer of The Flint Street Nativity, says: “This success is a tribute to the care taken with the musical by cast, crew and director. I think the Hull audience has taken to Flint Street because the nativity is a universal rite of passage – wherever you are in the country Christmas is Christmas, children are children, and family life is complicated. “ (10/01/12)
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