Full Monty makes dramatic return to home city in new theatre version

IT began its life as an Oscar-winning movie that took the name of Sheffield to Hollywood – but now The Full Monty is coming home for the first time.

The Yorkshire Post can reveal that a stage version of the story is set to come to Steel City, where the film was set, next year.

The Full Monty will receive its world premiere at the Sheffield Lyceum next February and will be written by Simon Beaufoy, the Oscar winning writer behind the original film, released 16 years ago.

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Mr Beaufoy, who wrote the play while living in the city, said: “Without Sheffield, there would be no Full Monty. It’s been a long road – via Hollywood – but finally the characters are coming back home to the place it all started. Or to put it another way, we are all genuinely chuffed to bits.”

Despite his Oscar for Slumdog Millionaire and writing the movie 127 Hours, this is the first time Mr Beaufoy has written for the stage.

Bringing the story to the stage is a long held ambition for Sheffield Theatre artistic director Daniel Evans, who said on his appointment almost three years ago that he wanted to bring The Full Monty home.

The Bafta award-winning film starring Robert Carlyle and Mark Addy, set in Sheffield, told the story of six unemployed men, low on both money and prospects, who decide to form a male striptease act and go “the full monty” in a local working man’s club in order to make some money.

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A major critical success, the film became the UK’s fastest grossing movie. Still well-known today for its Sheffield locations, soundtrack and local slang. It was also adapted as a Broadway musical in 2000, although this is the first time a straight play of the story has been made.

The show runs at the Lyceum from February 1 to 23. Tickets go on sale on May 26.

It has not been revealed if the actors will go “the full monty’ on stage.