Two-Time Olivier Winner Joanna Riding & More Tapped for Gary Barlow's The Girls in the West End

Naked ambition! Casting has been announced for the previously reported new musical from British national treasure and Finding Neverland scribe Gary Barlow and Tim Firth, The Girls. Directed by Tim Firth, performances will begin on January 28, 2017 at the West End’s Phoenix Theatre.

The “Girls” will be played by two-time Olivier winner Joanna Riding (Carousel, My Fair Lady) as Annie, Debbie Chazen (Topsy-Turvy) as Ruth, Sophie-Louise Dann (Bend It Like Beckham) as Celia, Michele Dotrice (Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em) as Jessie, Claire Machin (Memphis) as Cora and Claire Moore (Miss Saigon) as Chris.

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. 

The company will also include Joe Caffrey as Rod, Jeremy Clyde as Denis, John Davitt as Doctor, Soo Drouet as Brenda, James Gaddas as John, Jenny Gayner as Miss Wilson (coffee), Steve Giles as Lawrence, Maxwell Hutcheon as Colin, Shirley Jameson as Miss Wilson (tea), Marian McLoughlin as Marie, Judith Street as Lady Cravenshire and Jane Lambert, Rebecca Lewis, Victoria Blackburn and Frazer Hadfield, and introducing Josh Benson as Tommo, Ben Hunter as Danny and Chloe May Jackson as Jenny.

The production will feature 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 and musical direction and orchestrations by Richard Beadle.