The Full Monty at Bradford Alhambra Theatre Review

DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW

Reviewed by Kat Harrison

The 1997 film ‘The Full Monty’ was a huge hit and one that has stuck with me as a personal favourite.  I wasn’t going to miss the opportunity to see the story’s transition from screen to stage and it most definitely delivered.  It’s on at the Bradford Alhambra until 18th November and touring the UK until April 2024.

I’m not a natural laugh-out-louder but my chuckles could not be repressed.  This show offers laughs a plenty and will warm the cockles of your heart.

The Full Monty is the bittersweet story of six men who have lost both their jobs, and all hope, but who are united by an off the cuff plan to earn money by becoming strippers for a one-night only show.

I was on familiar territory with the story having loved the film, which also meant my expectations were set pretty high. The film’s characters are all so likeable despite their troubled lives and subsequent choices and happily, the stage production mirrors that.

The cast is superbly strong and every one of them delivers a hugely engaging performance, perfectly capturing the down to earth feel that fans of the Oscar winning film will appreciate.

The production brims with humour yet manages to explore the profound impact of unemployment caused by the loss of Sheffield’s steel industry.  Despite tackling serious issues including men’s mental health, impotence, suicide, body image and homosexuality, it succeeds in handling difficult themes in a way that is funny yet remarkably poignant.   The attempted suicide scene did catch me a little off guard; I expected more of an allude than a graphic representation. The 12+ recommendation I feel may come into its own here, particularly if a little blue language and bottom-bearing is deemed acceptable for younger viewers.  Nevertheless the shock of this scene lasted just seconds before the audience were back to shoulder shaking with laughter.  It’s a thin line but I think the production manages to tackle the subject sensitively shrouding it with good old Northern humour.

The cast is led by the talented Danny Hatchard as Gaz, the brains behind the quest to earn money whilst losing clothes. My favourite performance of the night was that of Neil Hurst, who plays the self-deprecating Dave, Gaz’s best mate (and partner in crime) who with bucket loads of charm seamlessly draws the required empathy from the audience with both his natural lovability and comic timing.

The duo were often joined on stage by Gaz’s son Nathan, played by Theo Hills, whose talent is evident.  His comedic timing too deserves a big mention, particularly given his young age.  Theo had everyone’s hearts in his hands.

I was excited to see Ben Onwukwe on stage (I grew up watching him play Recall in London’s Burning) and his master moves in Gaz’s audition for strippers made for a real humorous high and marked a step up in the show.  It was at this point, just before the interval, that the performance transformed from a funny, enjoyable show to a rip roaring, hilarious, not to be missed production.

The first act is fun (prepare for it to be rounded off with a pulse racing performance from Reality TV Star Jake Quickenden); the second act adds the fast-paced factor to that fun, accumulating in a climax, with the whole audience invested in seeing the cast both get their kit off and succeed in their plan.

Top marks to the Casting Director for assembling a group of individuals who certainly throw themselves into the roles. And there’s some amazing work from the Set Designers too.  The set is extremely clever in that it is built around three steel scaffolding structures in-keeping with the story of Sheffield industry, that spin and slot into spaces, transporting the audience into a range of locations including the run down steel mills, pub alleyways, the job club and the police station.  How the cast and crew moved these into place so smoothly was a carefully crafted piece of choreography in itself!

Speaking of choreography, that iconic final scene where the fellas perform their strip routine to Tom Jones’ ‘You Can Leave Your Hat On’ has been exceptionally well put together.  The pressure of baring all is taken away the Actors and placed totally in the hands of the Lighting Technicians, who should they slip up, would mean a right eyeful for the audience.  The way this scene plays out is ingenious.

Whilst the steel themed set, costume choices and references to Margaret Thatcher seem to represent Northern life in the 1980s, the music that accompanies the scene transitions mostly comes from the charts of the 1990s.  And whilst I liked the music choices, I was a little befuddled in that they didn’t seem in keeping with the story, either in terms of decade or content.  Perhaps it was just lost on me.

This production of The Full Monty manages to offer up both thought-provoking drama and girls’ night out style titillation, in the heart-warming, relatable style that us Brits seem to love.  We all love a tale of hope in the face of hardship and this is just that, done really, really well. You’ll definitely leave the theatre with a smile on your face.

Rating: 4/5

A big thank you to the team at the stunning Bradford Alhambra Theatre for looking after us.  The city is currently undergoing a huge regeneration and there is some disruption to road travel and parking.  However, the theatre’s website is a good source of information and will help you plan a smooth visit.  See https://www.bradford-theatres.co.uk/whats-on/the-full-monty

The Full Monty is touring theatres across the UK until April 2024. Check the locations and ticket prices at https://fullmontytheplay.com