When the chance to perform a play based on the award-winning film Calendar Girls sprang up, the big question the local cast had to consider was whether to go nude or not.In the end it was decided that to stay true to the original story, the actresses concerned needed to be ‘au naturel’.So, when the play makes its local debut at the Earl Cameron Theatre in City Hall, the cast members including Laura Bardgett, Valerie Smith, Nicola Flood, Carol Birch, Monica Dobbie and Jo Shane will perform parts of the play, sans clothes.“The nudity came up and we talked about wearing pasties and flesh coloured bodysuits or stalkings, but I felt to be empathetic with the character we had to do it nude,” said Ms Bardgett.Calendar Girls is a film based on the true story of a group of Yorkshire women who produced a nude calendar to raise money for Leukaemia Research, after one of their husband’s died from the disease.Amateur rights to reproduce the play only recently became available last September; the producers are attempting to set a world record for the most number of shows done in a calendar year.In Toronto alone, four different companies are putting on a production of Calendar Girls, so it’s “a big deal world wide”, said local director Janice Howell.She said the story’s plot really seemed to hit home for the cast members, as they all know one or more people affected by the disease.The women recently worked to create their own local calendar, with proceeds going toward cancer charities PALS, Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre, Friends of Hospice and BMDS Charitable Trust.Ms Howell said they chose to give the money specifically to cancer charities, considering that is what the play is about. In it a group of friends make the calendar to pay for a couch in the family visitor’s section of the hospital where Annie Clarke’s husband John was treated.Annie’s best fried Chris decides they should up the ante for their fundraising efforts and gets other friends on board to discreetly pose nude while taking part in everyday activities like baking and knitting.The calendar managed to get international media attention and raised more than £2 million for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research.Ms Flood said the women all knew what was in store when they signed up for the local production of Calendar Girls. “You either have to laugh and enjoy the moment or be embarrassed by the moment so we all laughed and enjoyed it,” she explained.Drinking wine also helped with the nerves, Ms Birch added.The first time baring all in front of the cameras was nerve wrecking, but they eventually loosened up — and at one point were just wearing Santa hats, pearls and high heels.Ms Smith said they were able to breath a collective sigh of relief when they saw that the photographs were tastefully done. “We are naked, but you can’t see anything,” she said.When it comes to the play, one of the most challenging aspects has been getting creative with the use of props to ensure important body parts are hidden.The women told The Royal Gazette the experience has been worth it for the chance to build closer bonds with the female cast members. They had all worked together or known each other on some level before the play started, but really formed strong bonds over the past few months.“These ladies have each other’s fronts and backs,” Ms Howell said, with a laugh.Each character has a least one emotional scene where they discuss how cancer has touched their lives. They predict the audience will be taken through “a roller coaster of emotions” throughout the performance — from laughter to tears.Ms Flood said: “In the face of such tragedy they make humour out of it and try and make the most out of a tragic situation and what they did was phenomenal.”She said one of her best friends was currently battling through cancer and undergoing chemotherapy treatments to fight the disease.“Every single night I am going to be dedicating my performance to her,” said Ms Flood. “I have promised her there won’t be a dry eye in the house.”What drew cast member Ms Birch to audition was the fact it’s a well-written play and she was passionate about bringing the important story to life.She said: “It was very much about all these women coming together as friends and doing something that to be honest was really daring for them and I think we push ourselves a little further when it’s a really good cause like that.“From their point of view I don’t think it was something they would have done normally.”Ms Bardgett said it was rewarding to know that by serving in the play she was also doing something to benefit people with cancer.“This was something I was able to do to support eradicating this monster because a lot of the time you feel so helpless if your friends or family are suffering.“You want to do something for them and help them apart from putting your arm around them, so the fact we are able to raise money for the charities it’s an extra thing I feel I am doing for them.”Calendar Girls will be playing from April 11-13 and 17-20 at the Earl Cameron Theatre in City Hall, Hamilton.Tickets, $35, are available online at www.express.bm; meanwhile the calendars will go on sale after opening night at www.bmds.bm.