The Full Monty. Louth Playgoers, Riverhead Theatre, Louth. 6 September 2026

The Louth Playgoers have chosen a very well known property as their next full production on the Main Stage at the Riverhead Theatre in Louth, Simon Beaufoy's 1997 film classic The Full Monty. Based on the much-loved film, the stage version follows a group of unemployed Sheffield steelworkers who, after finding themselves short of money and confidence, decide that their best chance of earning some quick cash is to form a male stripping act. It's a tale as old as time! Director Michelle Browne, and Assistant Director Yvonne Bates have taken on an enormous challenge, working with a large, predominantly male cast to bring to life a beloved Northern classic and the anticipation locally is huge with all but one performance already having sold out. So, if you really want to see the show, you need to be quick with tickets now only available for the matinee performance. Contact the Riverhead Box Office asap or you really will miss out on a rip-roaring comic play.

I think it is safe to assume that anyone wanting to see this play already has a good idea what to expect, it is bawdy, raucous and very funny. Audiences will certainly know what they are letting themselves in for and will, no doubt, have a tremendous night at the theatre during which they may laugh and cry as they join the lads on their journey of self-discovery and confidence building. Why confidence building? Ask anyone ever made redundant, you feel worthless and if you cannot provide for your loved ones, you feel less than worthless. The opportunity to earn a quick profit by taking your clothes off in public may not appeal to everyone looking for work, but to these six men, it represents more than a cash windfall, as you will see when you watch this play.

Michael Moore, Martyn Traylen, Brayden Kerr

The cast features six particularly brave local actors willing to sacrifice their clothing on stage every night in the name of entertainment and they are supported by a further cast of eleven who jump in and out of roles as required to bring this spectacular production to life.

Adam Shah, Mark Willoughby, Michael Moore, Martyn Traylen

The performance I saw, featured Freddie Hall as Nathan, a role he shares with Harry Lord. Nathan is the son of Gaz, our protagonist who, in a desperate search for money to pay maintenance for Nathan's upkeep, resorts to petty theft and ultimately stripping. Freddie gave a terrific performance as the one mature voice in a room in which his is surrounded by adults, often stealing the scenes with his dry one-liners and comebacks. I have heard excellent things about Harry's performance too.

Harry Lord as Nathan

Freddie Hall as Nathan, Brayden Kerr as Gaz, Michael Parker as Dave

As Nathan's father, Gaz, we have Brayden Kerr, last seen in James Sweeney's award-winning play, Make It Count, in the Studio at the Riverhead. Gaz is a wheeler dealer who will do anything to bring in even the smallest amount of cash, includingstealing girders from their old place of work, and taking his osn along as a lookout. Gaz may live on the edge of acceptable behaviour but his heart is in the right place and he truly loves his son. Kerr has exactly the right sort of personality to capture the role of Gaz. He is charismatic, likeable, funny and bold in his performance and will find audiences rooting for him to win custody of his son.

Gaz's best friend and partner in crime (literally) is Dave, played by Michael Parker. you get the impression that Dave is someone who has probably lived his entire life in the shadow of someone else, he is married to Jean but the two have struggled to "connect" for months now after being emasculated by his redundancy. Dave is a big lad who doesn't always believe in himself but is both loyal and loving, even when dragged into Gaz's dodgy schemes. Parker is perfectly suited to bring Dave to life on stage, he has such an affable quality and a bright, broad smile that lights the stage and you really believe that Dave is willing to do anything for those he loves and the audience will adore him.

On their quest to steal a girder, they encounter the indiffernt security guard known as Lomper who, unbeknownst to Gaz and Dave, is planning to kill himself as he has been driven to despair by life. Lomper is something of an innocent and he goes on an enormous journey of self-discovery as he realises who he really is and how he really wants to live. Michael Moore gives us a really sensitive portrayal of the down at heel guard who hates his job and his life.

Their former boss is Gerald, played by Martyn Traylen, who always felt superior to those who worked under him at the factory and refuses to accept his fate as an unemployed former manager. So much so, he has failed to tell his wife that he has lost his job and continues leaving for work every morning when he goes to look for work at the job centre only to be mocked by those who used to work under him. Traylen brings a sufficient air of animosity to the role and there is palpable friction between Gerald and Gaz thanks to Traylen's ability to play the power game.

Guy is another unemployed steel worker. He can't sing, he can't dance and the other wonder precisely what he can bring to the table until he drops his trousers and wows the selection panel auditioning him. Mark Willoughby is having a great time as Guy and really relishes teasing the other members of the Full Monty crew throughout the show with his innuendo and brash self-confidence.

The sixth and final member of the strip troupe is Horse, played by Adam Shah. Horse, we learn, is a nick name designed to taunt and tease him but he has long since got to grips with the name and offers it by his own volition at the audition. He looks to be something of an accomplished dancer until his hip goes and his arthritis plays up badly. Shah is an integral member of the team and is a valuable addition to the cast.

Then we have the wives, Abbie Dixon is the exasperated Mandy, Gaz's ex and mum to Nathan. She and Gaz are history after too many disappointments and let-downs. She now lives with Barry played by the ever-reliable Ray Baker. The friction between Dixon and Kerr fizzes as they argue over what is best for their son.

Then there is Jean, the long-suffering wife of Dave. Jean is still in love with Dave despite his loss of confidence and loss of libido. He sees the mess he has become and she sees the man she loves and married. Cheryl Lamming is excellent in the role and together with Michael Parker produces the the biggest "Awww!" moment in the play that will have the audience cooing at the relationship.

Also featuring in this production are Suzanne Lowell, Vicki Wright, Vikki Parker, Nigel Stolworthy, Dave Howden and Ian Cahill, whose support helps to really flesh out the cast and to help ground the storytelling with a wide range of comic characters.

The show features an excellent soundtrack that will get you toes tapping and the choreography by Hayley Wrightam and Mark Cressey really brings the finale to life. And after all, the finale is what people really want. Will the troupers perform "The Full Monty"? Of course they will! The finale will be spoken about for many years to come, so hurry to buy your tickets to the last remaining performance on sale. I'm sure you won't regret it. The play runs from Tuesday 8th to Saturday 12th September with a matinee on Saturday.

Andy Evans - 6 September 2026.