By Leicester Mercury | Posted August 25, 2012
Judy Hiorns discovered the Little Theatre, in Dover Street, in 1971 while trying to find her way around Leicester shortly after moving to the city.
?She walked straight in and became a member of Leicester Drama Society.
Her involvement with the theatre continued for over 40 years until her death in March, aged 76, at LOROS hospice in Groby Road, Leicester.
On September 6, a special performance of Calendar Girls will raise cash for the hospice.
The show will be a dress rehearsal for the production which opens properly the following day.
Tickets will cost £10 instead of the normal £12.60 and every penny will go to the hospice.
Judy's daughter Erica, who now lives in Leeds, said: "She just loved the theatre, full stop.
"She loved acting and watching and would travel all over to see plays.
"When she was young, she went to drama school and toured with a theatre company and she found the Little Theatre on her first visit to the city centre."
Judy appeared in numerous productions over the years at the Little Theatre, including Michael Frayn's Noises Off, Charlotte Jones's Humble Boy and several plays by Alan Ayckbourn.
In her early 40s, she took a degree in performing arts at Leicester Polytechnic – now De Montfort University – and started directing at the theatre.
In her 50s, Judy began teaching drama at Leicester High School for Girls.
She was diagnosed with cancer in December and had to step down from her role as director of The Glass Menagerie at the theatre.
She was admitted to LOROS in February.
Daughter Joanne, who lives in Devon, said: "We were touched by the consideration shown to us before and after our mother's death, from the volunteers on the front desk and in the cafe to the nursing staff and administrative support."
LOROS fundraiser Nancy Taylor said: "It's fantastic that the Little Theatre is getting involved in raising money for LOROS in this way.
"There are lots of tickets still and we're hoping it will be a sell-out."
The performance begins at 7.30pm. To book, call LOROS fund-raising on 0116 231 8431.
