A cast of women have bared all as life imitates art ahead of the first amateur staging of play Calendar Girls.

Brave members of the Miller Centre Theatre Company, Caterham will strip down to their birthday suits as part of the play, based on the true story of a Yorkshire women’s institute who put out a nude calendar in aid of Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.

In the spirit of true method acting, the women have decided to emulate the Knapeley WI and produce their own racy spread ahead of the play’s launch in September.

Director Barbara Beckett said the challenge had caused a few jitters.

She said: "The challenge of posing nude for the calendar invoked a similar reaction to that of the Knapeley women, initially nervous, self-conscious and inhibited, but when it came to the actual moment of 'reveal' they rose to the challenge and, without exception, were magnificent."

The pictures were taken by professional photographer Avril Jones, who is also a member of the company, last month at members of the cast’s homes.

Ms Beckett said: "Having done the calendar shots, the girls have no fear of posing during the actual performances.

Calendar Girls, which was made into a hit film in 2003 staring Helen Mirren, follows the struggles of the WI group as they attempt to raise funds for a new sofa at the local hospital’s waiting room.

To date the group have raised more than £3 million for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.

The Miller Centre calendar, which goes on sale on September 13, the date the play opens and will also be in aid of Leukemia and Lymphoma Research.

Mrs Beckett said: "When it was announced Calendar Girls was being released to amateurs, we saw this as a great publicity opportunity for the Miller Centre Theatre Company.

"A quick decision was made, enabling us to be among the very first companies to present the show. The fact that we shall be raising money for such a worthy charity also played a large part in our decision."