Linda and Judith got more than they bargained for when they joined a production of Calamity Jane
18:30, 26 Apr 2025Updated 18:35, 26 Apr 2025
Norman and Judith Martindale (left) with Linda and Geoff Hunter (right) at the Empire Theatre to watch Calamity Jane 50 years after they first met performing the show
Two women who met their husbands at an amateur production of Calamity Jane have taken a trip down memory lane by going to see the classic musical more than 50 years later.
Linda Hunter and her friend Judith Martindale first met while performing with the Pilkington Amateur Operatic Society in St Helens when they were 14.
In 1969, the theatre company put on a production of Calamity Jane, which is based on the life of the American gunslinger of the same name. During the production, Linda and Judith’s lives would change forever as they met the men they would go on to marry.
Speaking to the ECHO, Linda, 72, from Rainford, said: “I was playing the part of a saloon girl. My husband, Geoff, worked at Pilkington’s at the time, and one of the men in the office told him they were looking for cowboys for the production.
“He said to Geoff, ‘there’s a girl down there who’s just finished with her boyfriend – get down there!”
Geoff took the man’s advice and promptly joined the cast, along with two of his friends.
Norman and Judith Martindale (left) with Linda and Geoff Hunter at the Empire Theatre to watch Calamity Jane
Linda and Geoff soon hit it off, and one evening, she got a knock at the door and saw Geoff standing outside, waiting to ask her out on a date. She said yes, and the rest is history.
But they weren’t the only ones who saw romance blossom during rehearsals for Calamity Jane. Judith met her husband Norman at the same show.
“They got friendly as well,” said Linda. “And we all ended up getting married the same year. Judith got married in June 1972 and I got married in August 1972.”
The two women have remained close friends. Linda is godmother to Judith and Norman’s daughter, and Judith is godmother to Linda and Geoff’s son.
“It’s wonderful how we met,” said Linda. “We’re all still great friends.”
Over the years, Linda and Judith have both continued to perform. Linda is in a choir, while Judith is an accomplished actress. Calamity Jane gave Norman the acting bug too. Since performing in the musical, he has acted in a number of different shows.
For Geoff, though, once was enough. “He only stayed for one show – he already got the girl,” said Linda.
She has fond memories of acting in Calamity Jane, and still has a photo of the gang acting together in the show.
“Three of us are in the shot, she explained. “The photo is of Judith. I was the bridesmaid, standing there with my hands on my hips looking sultry. It was shot in the saloon with someone holding a gun.”
When Linda saw that Calamity Jane was being performed at the Empire Theatre in Liverpool, she knew they had to go.
She said: “I saw it and I thought, what a nostalgia trip. It’ll bring back a lot of lovely memories. So I booked some tickets.”
Linda, Judith, Geoff and Norman all went to the matinee performance of the show this afternoon.
The plot of the musical has strong parallels with their story. In the play, best friends Calamity Jane and Katy Brown end up getting married to their two suitors after a whirlwind romance.
Calamity Jane finished its run the Empire Theatre today.