Grumpy Old Women Live is a stage show based on the BBC television series Grumpy Old Women.
History
Inception
In Spring 2005, the idea of a live show of Grumpy Old Women, which had already been successful on the television, came to producer Judith Holder and Grumpy contributor Jenny Eclair, and was co-written by the two. They cast the show, and rehearsals began for a mini-tour in the Autumn of 2005. The original production was directed by Chris George, and mini-tour of seven dates set off in November 2005 and was a success.
For the Autumn tour, two brand-new members were recruited: Rhona Cameron and Annette Badland. Together with Jenny Éclair, they ventured off on another sold-out national tour.
In Spring 2007, Éclair went with Linda Robson and Dillie Keane to Australia on the first international tour of Grumpy Old Women.
A success in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth proved beyond any doubt that the "Grumpy Old Woman" is a global phenomenon. As stated in the official website, "from Cardiff to Canberra, women of a certain age could finally unite behind a common fear of graying hairs and sagging rears. Around the world it was suddenly ok to celebrate the cellulite. This again made the Grumpies very happy. We came, we grumbled, we conquered."
Two years after the first mini-tour, two new members were recruited, Denise Black and Britt Ekland. Along with Dillie, the three went on nationwide complain-a-thon.
It was announced in March 2009 that brand new show Grumpy Old Women Live 2: Chin Up Britain would see Susie Blake (Coronation Street, The Victoria Wood Show) and Wendi Peters (Coronation Street, Bad Girls) star alongside original Grump Jenny Eclair, who is also co-writing with Judith Holder. The show transferred to the Novello Theatre, London, for an eight-week run from 14 April to 5 June 2010.