The Alhambra Theatre, Bradford

It’s five years since Nigel Cole’s warm-hearted movie about ladies ‘of a certain age’ stripping for charity hit the large screen, and now playwright Tim Firth has adapted his own script (co-written with Juliette Towhidi) for the large stage.

This version is superbly staged and directed in a most sensitive manner with supreme stagecraft. The cast is a true ensemble and while no one tries to monopolise, each plays a full part in each aspect of this moving, yet at times hilariously funny story.

The death of John, splendidly played by Gary Lilburn, leads the members of the WI and his widow Annie - superbly played with humour and great poignancy by Patricia Hodge - to set out to raise funds for a settee in his memory for the visitors’ room at the hospital. Deciding upon a nude, not naked, calendar, they are organised by florist Chris, excellently played by Lynda Bellingham, and a photographic session follows of the most exquisite sensitivity and humour.

Sian Phillips plays retired school mistress Jessie with irony and great timing, whilst Elaine C Smith plays Cora, a vicar’s daughter gone bad who leads the music and has a preference for jazz.

Gaynor Faye is cast as Celia and is the most overtly sexy of them all, while Julia Hills as Ruth is initially the most inhibited. The President of the WI is a stern and forbidding social climber, played by Brigit Forsyth.

The production is both highly comical and yet at the same time very poignant in parts. As in the film, the comic highlight is the sequence of snapshots among the iced buns and teapots in the village hall. The girls manage to be cautious and coy while claiming to be outrageous.

This is an excellent production and the Alhambra was packed to the rafters on the opening night of its run. This is certainly an evening to remember - for all the right reasons.

Until Saturday. Box office: 01274 432000.