CHESHIRE writer Tim Firth’s mum is stripping off to perform in his well known production Calendar Girls as the amateur rights to stage the play are released next month.

Retired teacher Kathy Firth, 74, will play retired teacher ‘Jessie’ in Stockton Heath Methodist Dramatic Society’s production at the Cheshire village’s Methodist Hall in November. Her husband Gordon, 76, also a retired teacher, is designing the set.

Tim, from Alvanley, is overjoyed his parents are involved with one of 600 groups which have so far applied for a licence to stage the much loved production.

“She’s doing it, she’s doing the whole shebang!” said the proud writer, confirming his mum will strip off as part of the role.

Tim’s 2008 play – and preceding 2003 hit film – is based on the ladies of Rylstone and District WI who posed naked for a 2000 calendar in aid of Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research after the death of John Baker, the husband of Angela, a member, from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Tim is delighted at the response from the am dram world and that the original charity will benefit from a proportion of the proceeds.

“There are a lot of women who have never acted before who are having a go in memory of people out of bravery.”

And he has heard some groups are hiring larger venues to accommodate the anticipated crowds.

“You can imagine the surprise and how humbling and how proud I feel that the production has had this unexpected popularity and life and every time it’s earning money for this charity.”

Tim’s rom-com The Wedding Video, which features scenes in Chester, is currently on nationwide cinema release.

“People seem to be laughing and that’s what counts with a movie like that,” he said.

Tip Top Productions’ Calendar Girls is at The Forum Studio Theatre (former Chester Gateway) from September 10-22.