Calendar Girls - The Musical by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth, is being performed at the Queens Hall, Narberth until Saturday, November 6 by Vision Theatre Company, under the direction of Drew Baker.

The story of the Knapely WI members who decide to get their kit off to raise funds in memory of the husband of one of their number, who has died of leukaemia, spawned a million copycats and has been told a thousand times.

The latest incarnation is a musical - written by pop superstar Gary Barlow and Tim Firth, and while the constraints of staging and singing mean it is a pared down version of the story, the newly-formed Vision Theatre Company still manages to provide a big, ballsy beauty of a show.

While those photographs of the ladies posing naked behind props conventionally associated with the WI - think less Jam and Jerusalem and more bosoms and baked goods - are what brought their story to the attention of the world; Calendar Girls - The Musical is about so much more than flashing the flesh.

Director Drew Baker skilfully allows each of the very different Calendar Girls, played by Terri Harrison (Chris); Sarah Hancock (Annie); Naomi Harry (Cora); Lynne Gammage (Jessie); Alison Butler (Celia) and Michaela Waters (Ruth) to tell their own stories and chart the challenges their quite ordinary lives throw up.

It is this ordinariness that throws their wild idea to strip off to raise money in memory of Annie’s husband John (Stephen Butler) into stark contrast - and provides much of the humour that is a rich vein throughout the production.

Ultimately there’s nothing titillating about this story - instead it is one of friendship; female solidarity - and the power of ordinary women in extraordinary situations.

All six of the leads demonstrated some strong acting skills and vocals; but were ably supported by great performances from the rest of the cast, supported by a team of talented musicians under the direction of Clive Raymond.

Vision Arts is a new performing arts hub, based in Haverfordwest that hosts an Academy of Performing Arts, the Vision Theatre Company for adults and Vision Youth Theatre; as well as workshops, masterclasses and tuition in a range of performance arts.

The Vision Theatre Company’s next production will be Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s Evita.

Calendar Girls continues at the Queens Hall, Narberth until Saturday evening; see www.visonartswales.com/calendar-girls