MAUREEN Nolan has to bare a little more than her soul when she appears each night (and day, with three matinees a week) on stage, such are the storyline demands of Calendar Girls, The Musical.
Based on the true story of members of the Knapley Women’s Institute, it tells how a group of women decided to create a nude calendar to raise funds for leukaemia research, following the death of one of their husbands.
For Nolan however, the storyline has so much added resonance. The one-time member of the world-famous girl group The Nolans lost her younger sister, Bernie, to cancer. And right now, Linda Nolan is also battling the same illness.
Does performing in a show which is underscored by grief and loss touch heavily on her own heart?
“When I was in Blood Brothers I went through a similar thing,” she recalls. “My mum was dealing with Alzheimer’s and Bernie was dying. Yet, in a way, appearing in a show which deals with loss can be quite cathartic. What you come to realise is that not only do the characters have their own (sad) stories, but everybody does. That’s why powerful theatre like this has such an impact. It reaches an audience who have all experienced their own loss.”
She adds; “There’s a camaraderie with the people on stage, but also with the audience, which is very moving. This idea of sharing difficult times is really important. It helps us process.
"That’s why even Linda, who is going through a nightmare really, can say things like ‘Well, there’s always someone worse off.’ It’s so true. And this is a show about empowerment and friendship – and it’s just so relatable.
“What’s so important is holding hands together, the cast and the audience, and hoping that yes, you can get through the grief.”
Maureen Nolan says that the impact of the songs in the show (which began life as a straight play) lifts the production in an unimaginable way. “Gary Barlow’s songs are just so moving,” she says. “Music is also so cathartic and empowering. I think Gary Barlow is a genius. He came to see us on tour and he’s just the nicest person, and he said he loves the show.”
Nolan, who will be 70 in the summer, didn’t imagine during the Nolans’ success in the late 70s and 80s that one day she’d be working on a 13-week touring production. But then who could anticipate that much of the financial reward (the group's sold over 30m records and toured with Sinatra) would evaporate before their very eyes?
However, the Dublin-born singer is very far from feeling defeated; she simply rolls up her sleeves and gets on with it. “I’m so enjoying the show,” she says. “Since I appeared in Blood Brothers it’s the thing I’ve enjoyed most.”
She reflects, smiling; “When I first read the script I looked and thought ‘I’m hardly in this!’ and I felt a little insulted. But I soon realised it’s not about quantity, it’s quality, and I love my character, Ruth. I’m just so proud to be in this show. And yes, you have audience members crying, because of the subject matter, yet at the same time they go out smiling.
Read more: Groundbreaking and controversial classic returns to the Scottish stage
“It’s a real tale of how life can go on, if you have a support system around you. And it’s a great story of how positives can appear when you least expect them.”
An added bonus is working with a great cast. “Sometimes, working with a group of women can be difficult,” she says with a knowing smile. “But there are no divas with this lot. They are all lovely.”
What of the future? The performer, who admits to being a besotted grandmother, reveals her life could be about to go through a massive change. “My son has emigrated to America, (for career reasons) and I don’t know what to do. He has four daughters and a fifth on the way, and I haven’t been able to address the news because I just can’t process the information.”
Maureen Nolan’s lump in her throat expands as she adds; “My son wants me to go and live there, but that would be a big life change for me, considering I’m approaching 70. But I will definitely be going to Arizona when the tour is over. After that, I don’t know. If I don’t live over there, I will be going there a lot.”
She breaks into a characteristic smile. “For the moment I’m just enjoying being part of a really great show.”
Calendar Girls, The Musical, also features Laurie Brett, Liz Carney, Lyn Paul, Helen Pearson, Samantha Seager and Honeysuckle Weeks. The King’s Theatre, Glasgow, February 20 – 24.
Don’t Miss: Oran Mor, Glasgow’s new season of Play, Pie and a Pint is back, Monday to Saturday, opening with Jack, Liam Moffat’s play featuring Lawrence Boothman, which explores how one man navigates a life of love, loss – and finding hope, with the help of man’s best friend.
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