REVIEW
✭✭✭✭☆ 4/5
THE NEW UK TOUR OF
THE AWARD-WINNING SMASH HIT PLAY
THE FULL MONTY
BY SIMON BEAUFOY
TUESDAY 6 – SATURDAY 10 FEBRUARY 2024
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea
www.southendtheatres.org.uk
ON SALE NOW
✭✭✭✭☆ 4/5
THE NEW UK TOUR OF
THE AWARD-WINNING SMASH HIT PLAY
THE FULL MONTY
BY SIMON BEAUFOY
TUESDAY 6 – SATURDAY 10 FEBRUARY 2024
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea
www.southendtheatres.org.uk
ON SALE NOW
Simon Beaufoy’s award winning The Full Monty play has arrived at Southend’s Cliffs Pavilion this week and it couldn’t have arrived at a better time as the gloomy chill of the winter season gives us an excuse to seek a bit of heat - in all senses of the word!
The Full Monty began as a screenplay which worked its way into becoming a full scale movie in 1997. Its true to life story of a group of unemployed, working class men from Sheffield becoming strippers grabbed the attention of film fans across the globe and became a huge hit. It has now been re-written into a play which has been entertaining theatre audiences since 2013. This latest touring production has been directed by Michael Gyngell who has done a great job with this 2023/4 touring cast, bringing out some truly believable performances all round.
So why does a story of ordinary working class men stripping have so much appeal?
Apart from the obvious, The Full Monty isn’t really a play about stripping. The heart of this play is in the way it portrays how real men cope with serious issues including unemployment, suicide, poverty, impotence and homosexuality, in a way that gritty northerners have the monopoly on; with jokes and humour. Northern guys in the nineties certainly didn’t wear their hearts on their sleeves and humour was a go to coping mechanism for survival. One scene, that brings some of the darkest, yet funniest humour, comes from the moments just after one of the men attempts to hang himself.
Danny Hatchard and Neil Hurst as Gaz and Dave make a great pairing and their comedic banter is fabulous. They have both been laid off from the steel works and are desperately trying to make ends meet. Gaz’s wife has met someone else and he is struggling to pay for his son, Nathan’s maintenance and so after discovering that their local club has had the Chippendales performing and earning a bucket load of cash for stripping, he decides to get his pals together to form their own striptease act in order to bring in some much needed funds.
As you can imagine there are plenty of laughs to be had throughout and, of all the versions of this production that I’ve seen, this one has to be the funniest. This of course, is due to some fine writing, expert acting and great comedy timing.
Neil Hurst gives a wonderful performance as the reluctant, chubby Dave and Bill Ward also endears in the role of Gerald, who has failed to let his spendthrift wife know that he is no longer employed. Ben Onwukwe as Horse, in his initial scene when he comes to audition, is just hilarious and young Cass Dempsey who plays Nathan is a pure delight and shows a real maturity in his performance.
Jake Quickenden is the star name of the show, although we don’t see him for quite a while into the play. That said, when he does arrive, there’s a definite ripple of excitement from the audience and he leaves us with a visually ‘pert’ reminder at the end of Act 1 that there is plenty more of him to see in Act 2. Always leave ‘em wanting more, right?
The pace is only interrupted by the clunky scene changes of the three giant structures that become, amongst other things, the steelworks, the club and the job centre with a backdrop of the city of Sheffield to remind us where we are. However, this can be forgiven when the accompanying soundtracks include Love Action (Human League), Moving on Up (M People), Magic Moments (Perry Como), Bitter Sweet Symphony (The Verve) You are my World (Bronski Beat) and Picture of You (Boyzone) to tap your feet along to whilst all the heave-ho’ing is going on.
Of course all the favourite songs from the film are there to get us in the mood, including that now infamous scene where they are all lined up at the job centre and Hot Stuff comes on the radio. You won't be disappointed.
In the final scene you cannot help but feel the urge to will the guys on for their Full Monty performance. As director, Michael Gyngell sums up quite nicely, ‘Why is The Full Monty so successful? Because it’s not about stripping, it’s about WHY they strip.’
And that, ladies and gents, is why this show deserves all the success it can get.
Review: Kim Tobin
The Full Monty began as a screenplay which worked its way into becoming a full scale movie in 1997. Its true to life story of a group of unemployed, working class men from Sheffield becoming strippers grabbed the attention of film fans across the globe and became a huge hit. It has now been re-written into a play which has been entertaining theatre audiences since 2013. This latest touring production has been directed by Michael Gyngell who has done a great job with this 2023/4 touring cast, bringing out some truly believable performances all round.
So why does a story of ordinary working class men stripping have so much appeal?
Apart from the obvious, The Full Monty isn’t really a play about stripping. The heart of this play is in the way it portrays how real men cope with serious issues including unemployment, suicide, poverty, impotence and homosexuality, in a way that gritty northerners have the monopoly on; with jokes and humour. Northern guys in the nineties certainly didn’t wear their hearts on their sleeves and humour was a go to coping mechanism for survival. One scene, that brings some of the darkest, yet funniest humour, comes from the moments just after one of the men attempts to hang himself.
Danny Hatchard and Neil Hurst as Gaz and Dave make a great pairing and their comedic banter is fabulous. They have both been laid off from the steel works and are desperately trying to make ends meet. Gaz’s wife has met someone else and he is struggling to pay for his son, Nathan’s maintenance and so after discovering that their local club has had the Chippendales performing and earning a bucket load of cash for stripping, he decides to get his pals together to form their own striptease act in order to bring in some much needed funds.
As you can imagine there are plenty of laughs to be had throughout and, of all the versions of this production that I’ve seen, this one has to be the funniest. This of course, is due to some fine writing, expert acting and great comedy timing.
Neil Hurst gives a wonderful performance as the reluctant, chubby Dave and Bill Ward also endears in the role of Gerald, who has failed to let his spendthrift wife know that he is no longer employed. Ben Onwukwe as Horse, in his initial scene when he comes to audition, is just hilarious and young Cass Dempsey who plays Nathan is a pure delight and shows a real maturity in his performance.
Jake Quickenden is the star name of the show, although we don’t see him for quite a while into the play. That said, when he does arrive, there’s a definite ripple of excitement from the audience and he leaves us with a visually ‘pert’ reminder at the end of Act 1 that there is plenty more of him to see in Act 2. Always leave ‘em wanting more, right?
The pace is only interrupted by the clunky scene changes of the three giant structures that become, amongst other things, the steelworks, the club and the job centre with a backdrop of the city of Sheffield to remind us where we are. However, this can be forgiven when the accompanying soundtracks include Love Action (Human League), Moving on Up (M People), Magic Moments (Perry Como), Bitter Sweet Symphony (The Verve) You are my World (Bronski Beat) and Picture of You (Boyzone) to tap your feet along to whilst all the heave-ho’ing is going on.
Of course all the favourite songs from the film are there to get us in the mood, including that now infamous scene where they are all lined up at the job centre and Hot Stuff comes on the radio. You won't be disappointed.
In the final scene you cannot help but feel the urge to will the guys on for their Full Monty performance. As director, Michael Gyngell sums up quite nicely, ‘Why is The Full Monty so successful? Because it’s not about stripping, it’s about WHY they strip.’
And that, ladies and gents, is why this show deserves all the success it can get.
Review: Kim Tobin
Everyman Theatre Cheltenham & Buxton Opera House in association with Mark Goucher and David Pugh are delighted to announce full casting for the UK Tour of Simon Beaufoy’s THE FULL MONTY.
Full tour schedule below. www.fullmontytheplay.com
Joining the previously announced Danny Hatchard as Gaz, Jake Quickenden as Guy, Bill Ward as Gerald, Neil Hurst as Dave, Ben Onwukwe as Horse and Nicholas Prasad as Lomper will be Oliver Joseph Brooke, Katy Dean, Laura Matthews, Danny Mellor, Adam Porter Smith, Suzanne Procter, Alice Schofield, and Leyon Stolz-Hunter. The young actors playing the role of Nathan on tour will be Cass Dempsey, Theo Hills, Rowan Poulton and Jack Wisniewski.
Danny Hatchard is probably best known for his role as Lee Carter in BBC One’s EastEnders, and Gary in BBC One’s Not Going Out. His other television roles include Lee in BBC One’s Ridley Road and Private Rhett Charlton in BBC One’s Our Girl. His theatre credits include Aaron in Eyes Closed Ears Covered at The Bunker Theatre, for which he was nominated for an Off West End Theatre Award, as well as Tom Jenkins in Scrooge at Curve, Leicester, Jack Dawkins and Noah Claypole in Oliver Twist at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Ste in Beautiful Thing at The Arts Theatre and UK Tour and Valentin in Kiss of the Spider Woman.
Jake Quickenden’s theatre credits include the UK Tours of Hair, Footloose and Friendsical, as well as Peter Pan a Musical Adventure at Blackpool Opera House. On television Jake has previously appeared on ITV’s The X Factor, The Chart Show, I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!, Dancing On Ice, The Real Full Monty: On Ice and Channel 4’s Hollyoaks and Celebrity SAS Who Dares Wins. Most recently, Jake has been presenting regularly for ITV shows such as Lorraine and Loose Women.
Bill Ward is probably best known for his roles as Charlie Stubbs in ITV’s Coronation Street and James Barton in ITV’s Emmerdale. His other television credits include ITV’s The Hunt for Raoul Moat, Vera, Midsomer Murders, Heartbeat and Footballers’ Wives, BBC’s Silent Witness, Jonathan Creek, Casualty and Holby City. His West End theatre credits include Everybody’s Talking About Jamie at the Apollo Theatre, Viva Forever at the Piccadilly Theatre, Million Dollar Quartet at the Noel Coward Theatre, Spamalot at the Palace Theatre and Japes at Theatre Royal Haymarket.
Neil Hurst’s television credits include Channel 5’s All Creatures Great and Small, ITV’s Coronation Street and BBC’s Home from Home, Casualty, Doctors, The Syndicate and Moving On. His theatre credits include the UK Tour of Fat Friends the Musical, Early Doors Live UK Arena Tour, Evita at the Leeds Grand Theatre, and Jungle Book The Musical at the Oldham Coliseum.
Ben Onwukwe’s theatre credits include the UK tours of The Shawshank Redemption and Black Men Walking, The 47th at the Old Vic, New Nigerians at the Arcola Theatre, The Treatment at the Almeida Theatre and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe at the Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh. Ben’s television credits include ITV’s Professor T, Coronation Street and Law & Order UK, Netflix’s Marcella and the BBC’s EastEnders, Doctors and Holby City.
Nicholas Prasad’s theatre credits include Around the World in 80 Days at Theatre by The Lake/Hull Truck, The Comedy of Errors with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Approaching Empty at the Kiln Theatre, Treasure Island at Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Baghdad Wedding at the Soho Theatre. On television he has been seen in the BBC’s Doctors and EastEnders, and SyFy’s Krypton.
This fast and funny play is still very much of our time, as again we are hit by a cost-of-living crisis. Gaz and his mates are down on their luck and feel they have been thrown on the scrap heap, but they are determined to fight back and bare a little more than they ever thought they would have to.
As in the 1997 smash hit film, this brand-new production is a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs, laughs and heartbreak.
THE FULL MONTY marks the first co-production and partnership between the Everyman Theatre Cheltenham and Buxton Opera House, which recently became an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation.
THE FULL MONTY is directed by Michael Gyngell, choreography and intimacy direction is by Ian West, Set and Costume design is by Jasmine Swan with Lighting design by Andrew Exeter and Sound design by Chris Whybrow. The Casting Director is Marc Frankum.
THE FULL MONTY
UK TOUR LISTINGS
www.fullmontytheplay.com
TUESDAY 6 – SATURDAY 10 FEBRUARY 2024
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea
www.southendtheatres.org.uk
ON SALE NOW
TUESDAY 13 – SATURDAY 17 FEBRUARY 2024
Opera House, Manchester
www.atgtickets.com/venues/opera-house-manchester
ON SALE NOW
TUESDAY 20 – SATURDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2024
Theatre Royal, Glasgow
www.atgtickets.com/theatre-royal-glasgow
ON SALE NOW
TUESDAY 27 FEBRUARY – SATURDAY 2 MARCH 2024
Newcastle Theatre Royal
www.theatreroyal.co.uk
ON SALE SOON
TUESDAY 5 – SATURDAY 9 MARCH 2024
The Sands Centre, Carlisle
www.betterboxoffice.co.uk/the-sands-centre
ON SALE NOW
MONDAY 11 – SATURDAY 16 MARCH 2024
The Orchard Theatre, Dartford
www.orchardtheatre.co.uk
ON SALE NOW
TUESDAY 19 – SATURDAY 23 MARCH 2024
His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen
www.aberdeenperformingarts.com
ON SALE NOW
TUESDAY 26 – SATURDAY 30 MARCH 2024
Leicester Curve
www.curveonline.co.uk
ON SALE NOW
TUESDAY 2 – SATURDAY 6 APRIL 2024
Theatre Royal, Bath
www.theatreroyal.org.uk
ON SALE NOW
TUESDAY 9 – SATURDAY 13 APRIL 2024
The Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury
www.marlowetheatre.com
ON SALE SOON
Full tour schedule below. www.fullmontytheplay.com
Joining the previously announced Danny Hatchard as Gaz, Jake Quickenden as Guy, Bill Ward as Gerald, Neil Hurst as Dave, Ben Onwukwe as Horse and Nicholas Prasad as Lomper will be Oliver Joseph Brooke, Katy Dean, Laura Matthews, Danny Mellor, Adam Porter Smith, Suzanne Procter, Alice Schofield, and Leyon Stolz-Hunter. The young actors playing the role of Nathan on tour will be Cass Dempsey, Theo Hills, Rowan Poulton and Jack Wisniewski.
Danny Hatchard is probably best known for his role as Lee Carter in BBC One’s EastEnders, and Gary in BBC One’s Not Going Out. His other television roles include Lee in BBC One’s Ridley Road and Private Rhett Charlton in BBC One’s Our Girl. His theatre credits include Aaron in Eyes Closed Ears Covered at The Bunker Theatre, for which he was nominated for an Off West End Theatre Award, as well as Tom Jenkins in Scrooge at Curve, Leicester, Jack Dawkins and Noah Claypole in Oliver Twist at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Ste in Beautiful Thing at The Arts Theatre and UK Tour and Valentin in Kiss of the Spider Woman.
Jake Quickenden’s theatre credits include the UK Tours of Hair, Footloose and Friendsical, as well as Peter Pan a Musical Adventure at Blackpool Opera House. On television Jake has previously appeared on ITV’s The X Factor, The Chart Show, I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!, Dancing On Ice, The Real Full Monty: On Ice and Channel 4’s Hollyoaks and Celebrity SAS Who Dares Wins. Most recently, Jake has been presenting regularly for ITV shows such as Lorraine and Loose Women.
Bill Ward is probably best known for his roles as Charlie Stubbs in ITV’s Coronation Street and James Barton in ITV’s Emmerdale. His other television credits include ITV’s The Hunt for Raoul Moat, Vera, Midsomer Murders, Heartbeat and Footballers’ Wives, BBC’s Silent Witness, Jonathan Creek, Casualty and Holby City. His West End theatre credits include Everybody’s Talking About Jamie at the Apollo Theatre, Viva Forever at the Piccadilly Theatre, Million Dollar Quartet at the Noel Coward Theatre, Spamalot at the Palace Theatre and Japes at Theatre Royal Haymarket.
Neil Hurst’s television credits include Channel 5’s All Creatures Great and Small, ITV’s Coronation Street and BBC’s Home from Home, Casualty, Doctors, The Syndicate and Moving On. His theatre credits include the UK Tour of Fat Friends the Musical, Early Doors Live UK Arena Tour, Evita at the Leeds Grand Theatre, and Jungle Book The Musical at the Oldham Coliseum.
Ben Onwukwe’s theatre credits include the UK tours of The Shawshank Redemption and Black Men Walking, The 47th at the Old Vic, New Nigerians at the Arcola Theatre, The Treatment at the Almeida Theatre and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe at the Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh. Ben’s television credits include ITV’s Professor T, Coronation Street and Law & Order UK, Netflix’s Marcella and the BBC’s EastEnders, Doctors and Holby City.
Nicholas Prasad’s theatre credits include Around the World in 80 Days at Theatre by The Lake/Hull Truck, The Comedy of Errors with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Approaching Empty at the Kiln Theatre, Treasure Island at Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Baghdad Wedding at the Soho Theatre. On television he has been seen in the BBC’s Doctors and EastEnders, and SyFy’s Krypton.
This fast and funny play is still very much of our time, as again we are hit by a cost-of-living crisis. Gaz and his mates are down on their luck and feel they have been thrown on the scrap heap, but they are determined to fight back and bare a little more than they ever thought they would have to.
As in the 1997 smash hit film, this brand-new production is a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs, laughs and heartbreak.
THE FULL MONTY marks the first co-production and partnership between the Everyman Theatre Cheltenham and Buxton Opera House, which recently became an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation.
THE FULL MONTY is directed by Michael Gyngell, choreography and intimacy direction is by Ian West, Set and Costume design is by Jasmine Swan with Lighting design by Andrew Exeter and Sound design by Chris Whybrow. The Casting Director is Marc Frankum.
THE FULL MONTY
UK TOUR LISTINGS
www.fullmontytheplay.com
TUESDAY 6 – SATURDAY 10 FEBRUARY 2024
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea
www.southendtheatres.org.uk
ON SALE NOW
TUESDAY 13 – SATURDAY 17 FEBRUARY 2024
Opera House, Manchester
www.atgtickets.com/venues/opera-house-manchester
ON SALE NOW
TUESDAY 20 – SATURDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2024
Theatre Royal, Glasgow
www.atgtickets.com/theatre-royal-glasgow
ON SALE NOW
TUESDAY 27 FEBRUARY – SATURDAY 2 MARCH 2024
Newcastle Theatre Royal
www.theatreroyal.co.uk
ON SALE SOON
TUESDAY 5 – SATURDAY 9 MARCH 2024
The Sands Centre, Carlisle
www.betterboxoffice.co.uk/the-sands-centre
ON SALE NOW
MONDAY 11 – SATURDAY 16 MARCH 2024
The Orchard Theatre, Dartford
www.orchardtheatre.co.uk
ON SALE NOW
TUESDAY 19 – SATURDAY 23 MARCH 2024
His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen
www.aberdeenperformingarts.com
ON SALE NOW
TUESDAY 26 – SATURDAY 30 MARCH 2024
Leicester Curve
www.curveonline.co.uk
ON SALE NOW
TUESDAY 2 – SATURDAY 6 APRIL 2024
Theatre Royal, Bath
www.theatreroyal.org.uk
ON SALE NOW
TUESDAY 9 – SATURDAY 13 APRIL 2024
The Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury
www.marlowetheatre.com
ON SALE SOON