Centre Stage Company in Haverhill to launch fund-raising naked calendar at the Calendar Girls opening night

The naked ambitions of a dramatic society will be be revealed when it launches a fund-raising calendar on the opening night of its latest production.

The two things will come together when Centre Stage Company presents a special Gala Night for its upcoming production of Calendar Girls on Tuesday, May 20 at Haverhill Arts Centre - which it says will be an “unforgettable evening of theatre, fundraising, and community spirit”.

In a moving tribute to those affected by cancer, all ticket proceeds from the Gala Night will be donated directly to Cancer Research UK and St Nicholas Hospice Care.

The event will also mark the official launch of the society’s 2026 nude calendar, featuring the brave and beautiful cast in homage to the original Calendar Girls story that inspired a nation.

This production holds deep personal meaning for every member of the cast, with many sharing their own experiences and motivations for being part of the show.

“Every single one of us has a story,” says Em Robshaw, who is playing Celia.

“This performance is about more than theatre—it’s about love, loss, courage, and hope.”

With multiple opportunities throughout the evening to make additional donations, Centre Stage Company hopes to raise £10,000 for the two charities over the course of the year.

Cancer affects one in two people, and the Gala Night is part of a wider community effort to bring awareness and support to those impacted.

Centre Stage Company cast and crew will also be raising further funds when its team, called Sunflower Showstoppers, takes part in the annual Relay for Life, held at Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds on Saturday and Sunday, July 5/6.

Donations to their efforts can be made at the Relay for Life website.

Em added: “Come and join us for a heartfelt, humorous, and powerful evening of performance, celebration, and purpose—as our talented cast dares to bare for a cause that’s close to all our hearts.”

Tickets are available now from the Haverhill Arts Centre box office on 01440 714140 or HERE

Based on the 2003 smash-hit film, Calendar Girls: The Musical was written by former Take That star Gary Barlow and Tim Firth.

It tells the true story of the Knapely Women’s Institute, whose members came together to produce a nude calendar to raise funds for a hospital relatives’ room - proving.