Photo Flash: Inside the Bloodwise Gala Night of Gary Barlow and Tim Firth's New Musical THE GIRLS

Gary Barlow and Tim Firth's new British musical, The Girls, based on the true story, the film and the award-winning play by Tim Firth, Calendar Girls, opened in London's West End at the Phoenix Theatre. The West End premiere follows sold-out runs at the Grand Theatre Leeds and the Lowry Salford late 2015/early 2016. In the West End, the producers have made a commitment to there being no 'premium-rated' seats, no booking fees and reduced price previews.

Celebrity guests, who were in the presence of HRH The Duke of Kent and HRH The Countess of Wessex, included Graham Norton, Phillip Schofield, Mel Giedroyc, Mark Owen, Ore Oduba, Marc Almond, Michael Ball, Angus Deayton and John Sergeant. At the curtain all, the cast were joined on stage by writers Gary Barlow and Tim Firth, producers David Pugh & Dafydd Rogers and Bob Wankel of The Shubert Organization, and the original Calendar Girls.

Check out photos from the gala below!

The 'Girls' are played by Debbie Chazen, Sophie-Louise Dann, Michele Dotrice, Claire Machin, Claire Moore and JoAnna Riding. THE GIRLS is directed by Tim Firth.

Gary Barlow and Tim Firth's new British musical is based on the inspiring true story about a group of ladies who decide to appear nude for a Women's Institute calendar in order to raise funds to buy a settee for their local hospital, in memory of one of their husbands - they have to date raised over £4million for Bloodwise.

Photo credit: Alan Davidson

John Sergeant with his wife Mary Smithies
Sophie Countess of Wessex meets the cast of 'The Girls'
Sophie, Countess of Wessex and The Duke of Kent
Sophie, Countess of Wessex
Sophie, Countess of Wessex
Graham Norton
Gary Barlow
Gary Barlow
Gary Barlow
Gary Barlow
Gary Barlow
The Duke of Kent meets Gary Barlow and Tim Firth
Gary Barlow and Tim Firth meet Sophie, Countess of Wessex
Sophie, Countess of Wessex and The Duke of Kent meet the Original Calendar Girls
Sophie, Countess of Wessex and The Duke of Kent meet the Original Calendar Girls