THERE'S a moment in Calendar Girls that struck a chord with me. As someone who has spent a lifetime editing WI reports that are sent into local papers (someone has to do it) I know more than the average person about how scintillating some of their meetings can be.

At times there are breakaway factions who try to spice up the monthly get-togethers of these women's groups but often the bookings secretary has to resort to tried and tested speakers.

This is why outsiders will laugh out loud at the seemingly preposterous scene when we hear that the ladies from the WI have had a talk on the history of the tea towel and are looking forward to another on the wonderful world of broccoli. They also have to come up with an imaginative use of fir cones – with one creating the band Westlife out of flora.

Those of us in the know are only too aware that these subjects are often the reality - along with competitions for the best designed handkerchief and how many items you can squeeze into a matchbox.

Calendar Girls comes to Milton Keynes Theatre on March 15 for a ten-day run and I can't wait to see it again. I caught a sneak preview in Birmingham this week and, despite its emotional opening scenes, it is a joyous, life-enhancing piece that will have you laughing and crying in equal measures.

Tim Firth's witty dialogue mines a rich seam of Yorkshire humour that, as Letitia Dean, one of its stars told me afterwards, sees the characters laughing in the face of adversity.

It's a story that has captured the hearts of everyone who has heard about it. The film of the same name won world-wide acclaim, grossing $40m in the USA and Britain alone, while the original calendar sold 88,000 copies and helped raise more than £2m for Leukaemia Research.

The ladies on whose story the play is based, are still raising money while LR has a stall in the theatres visited by the production and a percentage of ticket sales goes to the charity.

Once upon a time, in a fictional Yorkshire village WI, one of the members faces losing her husband to the disease. As the seasons are quickly dispatched we see the courageous and spunky John Baker succumb leaving behind a grieving widow, Annie, and her friends from the group.

They want to raise money to buy a new £520 sofa for the relative's room at the hospital where John was treated and their renegade leader, Chris, hits upon the idea of producing "An Alternative WI Calendar" for the cause.

As George Clooney isn't available, and they are reluctant to use scenic views of the Dales, they come up with a calendar offering scenic views of the WI – topless.

Now none of these women are glamour models (except 25-year-old former lingerie model and Hollyoaks actress Gemma Atkinson) so the prospect is a terrifying one.

It's pretty scary for the stars of the play three of who are in their 60s.

Everyone in the audience feels their fear and excitement. How many wish they had the courage to do something similar.

Pretty much everyone knows how the story turns out and along the way there are moments of pain and anguish, sorrow and joy.

There's lump-in-the-throat times when we admit to ourselves that cancer has affected our lives in some way, a scenes of pure hilarity as the girls eye up each other's assets, guzzle vodka to steady their nerves for the photo shoot and encourage each other through the session.

It's a story about love and support, highly emotional at times but so expertly paced that you're laughing again before becoming too maudlin.

It's wonderful to see a story written for more mature actresses, women who aren't size zero, and who win the empathy of the audience who identify both with them as people and the characters they play.

And perhaps that is why this production has been such an overwhelming success. There are so few pieces written for the stage that target an audience of predominantly middle aged and elderly women – yet they are the mainstay of theatres up and down the country.

The principal stars – Lynda Bellingham as Chris, Jan Harvey as Annie, Letitia playing single mum and vicar's daughter Cora, Gemma's golfing widow Celia, Hannah Waterman's mousy Ruth and the young-at-heart retired teacher Jessie (Judith Barker) – are sensational and genuinely radiate a warmth and friendship with each other.

Lynda's real life son, Michael Peluso, makes an impact in two cameo roles, playing the group's nervous photographer Lawrence and, later, cocky ad man Liam.

The clever set by Robert Jones, gives us views of sunflower-strewn hillsides and musty church halls while director Psyche Stott follows the film's lead and expertly takes us through the topless scenes with grace and dignity (so don't expect a strip show, this is much classier).

Calendar Girls runs from March 15 to 27. For tickets call the box office 0844 871 7652 or go online www.ambassadortickets.com/miltonkeynes