The Full Monty (play)

In May 2012, it was announced The Full Monty would receive its world premiere in Sheffield in 2013.[16] The play premiered at the Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield on 2 February 2013, running until 23 February. The production was directed by Daniel Evans,[17] with choreography by Steven Hoggett,[18] design by Robert Jones,[19] lighting by Tim Lutkin[20] and original music and sound design by Max and Ben Ringham.[21] The lead cast for the show included Kenny Doughty as Gaz, Sidney Cole as Horse, Craig Gazey as Lomper, Roger Morlidge as Dave, Kieran O'Brien as Guy and Simon Rouse as Gerald.[22] Following its debut in Sheffield the play embarked on an eleven venue tour[23] visiting Birmingham,[24] Bristol,[25] Canterbury,[26] Aberdeen,[27] Belfast, Edinburgh,[28] Dublin,[29] Salford,[30] Southampton,[31] Southend On Sea[32] and Leeds.[33]

In January 2014, the production began a short pre-West End run at the New Theatre, Cardiff, followed by the Theatre Royal in Bath.[34] The show then transferred to the West End's Noël Coward Theatre,[35] where it began previews on 20 February 2014, before holding its official opening night on 25 February, booking until 14 June 2014.[36] The original tour cast stayed with the production[23] and tickets for the previews were sold at 1990's prices.[37] The play received a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for Best New Comedy.[38] On 16 March, it was announced the show would close early after just five weeks[39] on 29 March,[40] due to poor sales.[41] The move surprised critics[42] and cast alike,[43] with an online petition also being launched.[44] The petition was signed by the shows writer Simon Beaufoy, who said of the show's producers David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers, "Why would a producer close his own show before it had any chance of finding an audience?" and "On the other hand, why would a producer never come to see his own show? Perhaps he can answer these questions. I can't because he hasn't spoken either to me or the creative team in months."[45][46] The petition had no effect in terms of extending the productions run and the play closed on 29 March,[47] to be replaced by Good People.[48]

A new production embarked on a 32-week tour of the United Kingdom, commencing at the Manchester Opera House,[49] on 11 September 2014.[50] Featuring a new cast the show was seen in major venues throughout Britain finishing back at Sheffield's Lyceum Theatre in June 2015.[51][52] A second touring production is directed by Roger Haines[53] and casting includes Gary Lucy as Gaz, Louis Emerick as Horse, Bobby Schofield as Lomper, Martin Miller as Dave, Rupert Hill as Guy and Andrew Dunn as Gerald.[54] A typical London performance ran two hours and 25 minutes, including one interval of 20 minutes.

The tour continued in September 2015, with the same cast, mostly performing in coastal resorts.[55] The tour continued from September 2016. Lucy, Emerick and Dunn continue in their roles, with new cast members Anthony Lewis as Lomper, Kai Owen as Dave, Chris Fountain as Guy & Fiona Skinner as Jean. The Tour was Directed by Jack Ryder, with Choreographer Ian West, Assistant Director James Robert-Moore, Designer Rob Jones, and Lighting by Tim Lutkin.[56]