THE story of the WI ladies who stripped for charity is coming to a Chester-le-Street stage.

Chester-le-Street Theatre Group will perform Calendar Girls, the 2003 big screen hit, at the Chester-le-Street Community Centre, Newcastle Bank, later this month.

The film, which later became a popular stage drama, tells how women in a Yorkshire Dales village produced a nude calendar to raise money for Leukaemia Research after one of their husbands contracted the disease.

The show will be performed from Wednesday, May 29 to Saturday, June 1 starting at 7.15pm each night.

Proceeds from the show will go to the Willowburn Hospice at Maiden Law, Lanchester, which cares for terminally-ill patients.

Tickets for the production cost £7 for adults and £6 for concessions.

Theatre group spokesman Philip Martin said: “Because of the nature of Calendar Girls we felt it appropriate to donate the proceeds.

“When you buy the rights to perform Calendar Girls a percentage goes to Leukaemia Research.

“So we just felt it was appropriate that we raise money for the hospice.

“The parents of one of the children in the group works there, as well.

“We have produced a calendar and the proceeds from that will go to the hospice as well.

“Male and female members of the cast and the show’s producer posed for it.”

Tickets are available by calling 0191- 388 3778 or by visiting the group’s website at www.chesterlestreettheatregroup