Warmth and humour in Steel Magnolias at Leamington’s Loft

Ruth Herd (Annelle Dupuy-Desoto), Charlotte Brooks (Truvy Jones), Kathy Evans (Clairee Belcher), Rayner Wilson (Ouiser Boudreaux), Mary MacDonald (M'Lynn Eatenton) and Natasha Scott-Morgan (Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie) in Steel Magnolias at the Loft Theatre.

Robert Harling’s Steel Magnolias, a story of a group of women who gather each week at a beauty salon in Louisiana, USA, will be performed at the theatre from Wednesday (April 2) until Saturday April 12 at 7.30pm each evening (except Sunday).

Made into a film in 1989 starring Julia Roberts, Shirley MacLaine and Sally Field, the play sees the women gossip, tease, laugh, fight, cajole and comfort each other as they go through life’s joys and challenges. The Loft’s production is directed by Gus McDonald, who oversaw two performance runs of Calender Girls in 2013, such was its popularity.

He said: “Given the number of women who turned up to audition, it’s obviously very popular and I had a really tough time selecting the cast. The script is full of warmth and humour, with some beautifully written characters, and promises to be a real crowd-pleaser.

“It’s not the simple ‘weepie’ that I thought it was going to be - but a very well written, emotionally complex play.”

For tickets, call 0844 493 4938 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday, visit the theatre box office on evenings from Monday (March 31) or go online.