“The Full Monty” by Simon Beaufoy
Nottingham Theatre Royal

It’s the story of six out of work steel workers from Sheffield who decide that, for one night only, they will get a bit of dosh in, by performing The Full Monty, in their local club. The decision comes about by way of a “girlie night” at the club with a set of strippers who do not go “all the way” and Gaz gets together his work mates to top this by going all the way, or The Full Monty, as that will be how they can guarantee a full house and get the maximum money in as a short term end to all of their money issues.

Despite being a comedy, Simon Beaufoy also touches on serious subjects such as unemployment, fathers' rights, depression, impotence, homosexuality, body image, working class culture and suicide.

This play is as much a play for the lads in the audience as it is for the women, because it shows brotherhood and working together as well as discovery.

Actors are notoriously self-conscious, so to perform in this play takes a lot of guts, but these lot looked like they were loving the adoration of the crowd tonight.

Gary Lucy plays Gaz, as cheeky as ever, and he really has made this role his own. Gaz has the most pressure on as he has a son that he needs to pay maintenance for, who is living with his ex, Mandy, and her new boyfriend, Barry. With the threat of not seeing his son due to the payments owed, he is desperate to stem this money flow and get more access to see his son.

Gaz, Lomper, Dave and Gerald hold auditions to get the other two, Horse, who is a bit of an old school dancer and Guy, who can’t dance but has something big to add to the mix!

Andrew Dunn, who you will recognise from “Dinnerladies” plays Gerald, the former foreman at the mill.

Louis Emerick, from “Brookside”, “Last of The Summer Wine” and “Coronation Street” plays “Horse”.

Joe Gill, best known for his role as Finn Barton in “Emmerdale” is Lomper, the security guard at the mill.

Kai Owen, best known for playing Rhys in “Torchwood” is Dave.

James Redmond is a well-known face on TV having appeared in “Coronation Street”, “Emmerdale”and “Doctors” among many other TV roles, plays Guy.

All six have their secrets which we all discover throughout the play

Amy Thompson plays Mandy, Liz Carney plays Jean - Dave's wife and Keeley Fitzgerald plays Sharon, and the women in "The Full Monty" play just as important role as the men.

Stephen Donald plays Barry.

Gaz’s son, Nathan is played by Fraser Kelly,and is a complete natural.

Directed by another soap star, Rupert Hill, who has, over the years carved out a reputable career on stage as an actor as well as Director, and has played Guy in the past on tour. I notice there was at least one scene that Rupert decided to leave out of this production, which didn't spoil the flow one bit.

The lighting, and this all important in this play, is designed by Colin Grenfell.

Ian West choreographs the play leading up to that final, and famous strip routine, which got all the women in the audience whooping.

You’ll know all of the songs played in the play, most of them you’ll remember from the 1997 smash film. Hot Chocolate’s “You Sexy Thing”, Donna Summer’s “Hot Stuff”, Wilson Pickett’s “Land Of A Thousand Dances” and of course Tom Jones’ “You Can Leave Your Hat On”.

This is a wonderful, fun and cheeky play which will tug at your emotions in many ways but will leave you feeling just that little bit warmer inside after seeing it.

“The Full Monty” is at the Nottingham Theatre Royal until Saturday 9 February 2019. Could you bare to miss out on seeing these lads rise to the occasion?