| the_full_monty_programme_notes.docx |
The Full Monty Programme Notes
Welcome to this production of Simon Beaufoy’s heartfelt play The Full Monty. Just a group of lads trying to regain their dignity and pride. This fast and funny play is still very much of our time, as again we are hit by a cost-of-living crisis. Gaz and his mates are down on their luck and feel they have been thrown on the scrap heap, but they are determined to fight back and bare a little more than they ever thought they would have to.
Featuring a hot man for everyone! Starring Danny Hatchard (Eastenders, Ridley Road, Our Girl, SCROOGE) as Gaz, Jake Quickenden (Footloose, Hair, X Factor, Dancing on Ice) as Guy and Bill Ward (Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie) as Gerald, with Neil Hurst (Fat Friends the Musical, All Creatures Great and Small, Coronation Street) as Dave, Ben Onwukwe (The Shawshank Redemption, Professor T, Marcella) as Horse and Nicholas Prasad (Around the World in 80 days, The Comedy of Errors, Doctors) as Lomper.
Set
On the back wall there’s a large photo of Sheffield city seen from a hillside which is present throughout most of the scenes, it occupies all of the background. On the stage there’s a very large metal framed two level structure made up of three parts.
When there is a scene change, the actors and stage crew pull and push out the structure to represent other locations. The frame rises up off the floor a little and they are able to wheel each one 360 degrees if needed. This is very much part of the show and the lights are not completely dimmed when they do this.
The Factory Steelworks
Initially the structure represents a side view of the stairwells on the inside of the factory steelworks. As the people leave the stairwell, they open out the structure to reveal the inside of the steelworks.
The structure which appears to be old, grimy, oily and dirty reaches right across the stage. In the centre on the ground floor there is a large old green double door with a heavy bolt across it. To the left there’s a white door and on the right there’s a grey door with an emergency push handle on it. Both doors have green fire escape signs lit above them. On either end of the structure there are metal staircases that lead up to a first-floor gantry platform that runs the length of the ground floor. There are metal guardrails along the gantry too. Around the double door there are some bright yellow safety girders and to the right of the door there’s a vertical safety ladder that sits at 90 degrees to the gantry.
In each stair case there are tin lampshades with bulbs each emitting a dim light and on the first floor there are two wall lights high on the yellow girders also emitting dim light. On the ground floor there is one wall light that’s above a light switch.
Underneath each stairwell there are buckets, boxes, bits of rope, tools, tool boxes, crates and end of a girder poking out.
Every so often there is a crack, a puff of smoke and a flash of sparks from the factory steelworks as there has been water damage inside to some of the electrical equipment.
The Working Men’s Club
The metal frame is separated into three parts, turned around and now it is the back of the local working men’s club. There’s a fire escape stairwell on the structure on the left and the back door of the club is to the right of this. Around the door frame of the club there are faint blue and red lights pulsing signifying the event on inside. To the right, the other structure forms the wall in the alleyway with a large black and white poster of the Chippendales and beside that there’s an industrial green wheeled rubbish bin. On top of the wall above the bin and the poster there is a walkway.
Mandy’s House
The set is moved once again and now it’s the front of Mandy’s house. There’s a white front door with brass number 136 on it. The door is on the left and there is a plain wall on the right.
The Job Club
The set is moved again, the metal frames are pushed out to the side and a back wall is lowered in. On the back wall there’s a window with vertical blinds above a radiator and to the right of that a sign that reads – ‘job club’ which is above 6 wall mounted blue pin boards.
In the front of the job club on the left, there’s a desk and chair with a computer at it. On the right-hand side there’s a table with three blue chairs and behind them a large free standing notice board with a no smoking sign and small notices, a clip board and some manilla folders.
There are two long fluorescent lights hanging from the ceiling that are lowered down.
The Factory Steelworks
Inside the factory steelworks from a different angle this time, the main double door is now at a 45-degree angle and the vertical ladder that runs up the side of it. Both stairwells are also present and there is a chain with a hook hanging from the front corner of the structure at the top of the gantry.
The Conservative Club
The conservative club has a green back wall clad with dark green frame moulding, there’s a large crest on the left of the wall and on the right of the wall a lit portrait of Margaret Thatcher. Between the crest and the portrait there is a petite wall light with two little lamps.
Hanging from the ceiling there is a modest chandelier over the dancefloor. On the left of the room there are some storage cupboards covered up by a dark green curtain and on the right there’s a green double door. Further right there’s a fire escape door.
George Barnsley’s
On the back wall of George Barnsley’s there are three large arched windows with the cityscape of Sheffield behind them. There is a white door on the left and two long fluorescent lights are once again hanging from the ceiling. On the left of the room there is one plain office chair and, on the right, there are two executive high-backed chairs.
In the Park
The park features a long red metal bench in the centre with its back to the view of the city from high up. On either side of the bench the stairwells are just poking in and are populated with characters who are only silhouetted.
As the set moves back into the steelworks a dancer that has been on the stairwell dances down provocatively as the set moves.
In the dole queue
At the dole office there’s a small white single person cabin on the left. It has a yellow curtain in the back of it and there’s a radio on the ledge. There’s just enough room for the dole officer to stand and talk to one person from the queue at a time. The queue of people are standing at 90 degrees next to a wall that has a set of double doors and a single door on the right. There are 3 long fluorescent lights hanging from the ceiling and as the radio music gets louder the light shines brighter from the booth highlighting the people in the queue.
The Police Station
The police station room appears harshly lit and drab, the stairwells are on either side of the interview room acting as walls. There’s a table at the front left with two chairs on either side. On top of the table there’s an interview recorder. In the back of the room there’s a large darkened window and in front of that there’s a long bench with 4 chairs attached to it. Under the right stairwell there’s a TV and video recorder set on wheels. There’s a singular fluorescent light hanging from the ceiling in the middle.
In the Working Men’s club
Inside the working men’s club there’s a stairwell on the far left and a white door to the right of this. The stairs lead to a balcony that’s just above the top left of the stage.
In the centre is the stage which features thick metal bars above it holding the stage lights. At the back of the stage there’s a full-length purple curtain. This drops just before the performance revealing a sparkling long tinsel blue curtain with fifteen sets of four spotlights behind the curtain that pulse low and high in time with the music.
Within the same setting, the outside of the club is lit up on the right-hand side stairwell while the stage is in darkness. Nathan and Gaz have a conversation and when they go inside the lights dim on the outside stairwell and come back up on the stage.
When the men are performing the industrial green bin is wheeled on from behind the tinsel curtain. It has had fairy lights attached around it and graffiti on the front of it reads ‘Bums of Steel’. The performers also use confetti cannons at one point, shooting confetti up into the air and all over their stage.
Cast
Main characters
Danny Hatchard as Gaz
Neil Hurst as Dave
Cass Dempsey / Theo Hills / Rowan Poulton / Jack Wisniewski as Nathan
Bill Ward as Gerald
Jake Quickenden as Guy
Ben Onwukwe as Horse
Nicholas Prasad as Lomper
Katy Dean as Jean
Oliver Joseph as Barry/Terry/Interviewer
Laura Matthews as Mandy/Michelle
Danny Mellor as Phil/Policeman
Adam Porster Smith as Alan/Alf/Dance student/Interviewer
Suzanne Procter as Linda/Annie/Bee
Alice Schofield as Sharon/Job Centre employee/Social worker
Leon Stoltz-Hunter as Brian/Interviewer/Police Sergeant
Jacki Van Holloway as understudy
Costumes
All the characters wear clothing of the 1990s. The men typically wear jeans and t-shirts or polo shirts or tracksuits with the exception of Gerald who wears a suit and Horse who wears suit trousers and a soft brown jacket.
Gaz
Gaz is a medium build man of average height with brown short brown hair. He wears a maroon bomber jacket, black jeans and white polo shirt with a blue stripe across the chest. When he’s in training for the show he wears a blue polo shirt and grey jogging bottoms. Gaz wears white boxer shorts.
Dave
Dave is a heavy-set man of average height and he wears a blue bomber jacket with pale blue jeans and a dark blue polo shirt with horizontal blue, green and white stripes. Dave wears grey boxer shorts.
Gerald
Gerald is a tall slim man with greying hair and he wears glasses to read. He firstly wears a dark grey suit with an off-white shirt and plain grey tie and brown shoes. When Gerald is in the Conservative club, he wears a green sleeveless wool jumper over his shirt with brown trousers. Later on, Gerald wears a brown suit with a striped tie, off white shirt and a long tan trench coat and brown shoes. He wears a bright blue adidas tracksuit with a white t-shirt and white trainers when they are training for the show. Gerald wears grey boxer shorts.
Lomper.
Lomper is a young man, average height with glasses and light facial hair. When Lomper is first introduced he is wearing a security guard’s outfit, comprising of dark blue blazer, white shirt with blue epaulettes, a dark blue tie, dark blue trousers and black shoes, he also wears a dark blue service cap. In later scenes he wears a maroon anorak over his uniform. He then wears an oversized blue checked shirt open, over a green polo shirt with a green tie, pale blue jeans and black shoes. When Lomper is training he wears grey jogging bottoms, white trainers and a blue t-shirt along with his security baseball cap. Lomper wears teal y-fronts.
Nathan
Nathan is a young boy, Gaz and Mandy’s son. He wears an oversized sheepskin coat with a blue hoody and white t-shirt underneath. He has black jeans and black and white trainers.
Alan
Alan is a short man of medium build who wears a teal ski tracksuit with a white polo shirt underneath and white trainers. Alan later wears pale blue jeans with a satin blotchy dark pink, blue and green shirt and white trainers.
Jean
Jean has shoulder length brown hair with a fringe and wears high waisted jeans. a black glittery top with a short silvery blazer and white shoes. She also carries a cross body black purse. She later wears a ¼ zip polo fleece that’s aqua and peach with a white stripe across the chest, with this she wears pale jeans and white trainers. When she wears this outfit at work, she wears a blue floral tabard over the top of it.
Mandy
Mandy has blonde shoulder length curly hair and wears a purple blazer with a black polo neck, jeans and brown loafers. Later on, she wears a lilac jumpsuit with a dark purple polo neck underneath and slippers on her feet. In her last scene Mandy wears a purple waist length coat with a maroon polo neck, a knee length denim skirt and knee-high black boots.
Horse
Horse is a tall slim older gentleman with facial hair who wears a tan jacket that appears too big on him, he’s also wearing a brown cardigan over a tan striped shirt with brown braces, tan trousers and brown shoes. Horse wears long johns under his trousers.
Guy
Guy is a tall muscular young man with brown hair and dark facial hair consisting of a beard and moustache that is well groomed. He wears a dark blue and white tracksuit top and pale blue jeans with white trainers when we are first introduced to him. In later scenes he wears dark blue shorts with a green vest and his white trainers. Guy has striped briefs.
Sharon
Sharon has tied back brown hair a shimmery gold blazer, with a stripey black and red top underneath, dark blue jeans and brown high heeled boots. She’s also carrying a small cross body black purse.
Linda
Linda is a well-dressed woman with very blonde shoulder length wavy hair. When we’re first introduced to Linda at the Conservative Club, she is wearing a bright blue 2-piece suit dress with a ruffle bottomed top and knee length skirt and white shoes. When she goes to change her shoes, she comes back wearing a different skirt and top that is much darker blue and now has on green shoes. When Linda is in the Job Club, she is wearing a blue and green floral dress with shoulder pads, she has a black handbag and green shoes.
Barry
Barry wears a cream bomber jacket, stripey cream sweater with a black shirt underneath, jeans and black shoes.
Bee
Bee has platinum blonde shoulder length straight hair with a ponytail right on the top of her head. She’s wearing a sparkly black blazer with a black dress underneath; the dress has a triple ruffled bottom. She also has a small cross body black purse and she wears knee high black patent high heeled boots.
When the men are performing their strip show they wear dark blue imitation police officer suits with glittery silver embellishments on the shoulders, the hat and the lapels. They wear pale blue shirts with dark blue ties and black belts. Under their suits they have white vests and white boxers and underneath that they have white boxers and underneath that pale blue thongs.
Creative team
Director - Michael Gyngell
Choreography and Intimacy director – Ian West
Set and Costume Design – Jasmine Swan
Lighting Design – Andrew Exeter
Sound Design – Chris Whybrow
Casting Director – Marc Frankum
Welcome to this production of Simon Beaufoy’s heartfelt play The Full Monty. Just a group of lads trying to regain their dignity and pride. This fast and funny play is still very much of our time, as again we are hit by a cost-of-living crisis. Gaz and his mates are down on their luck and feel they have been thrown on the scrap heap, but they are determined to fight back and bare a little more than they ever thought they would have to.
Featuring a hot man for everyone! Starring Danny Hatchard (Eastenders, Ridley Road, Our Girl, SCROOGE) as Gaz, Jake Quickenden (Footloose, Hair, X Factor, Dancing on Ice) as Guy and Bill Ward (Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie) as Gerald, with Neil Hurst (Fat Friends the Musical, All Creatures Great and Small, Coronation Street) as Dave, Ben Onwukwe (The Shawshank Redemption, Professor T, Marcella) as Horse and Nicholas Prasad (Around the World in 80 days, The Comedy of Errors, Doctors) as Lomper.
Set
On the back wall there’s a large photo of Sheffield city seen from a hillside which is present throughout most of the scenes, it occupies all of the background. On the stage there’s a very large metal framed two level structure made up of three parts.
When there is a scene change, the actors and stage crew pull and push out the structure to represent other locations. The frame rises up off the floor a little and they are able to wheel each one 360 degrees if needed. This is very much part of the show and the lights are not completely dimmed when they do this.
The Factory Steelworks
Initially the structure represents a side view of the stairwells on the inside of the factory steelworks. As the people leave the stairwell, they open out the structure to reveal the inside of the steelworks.
The structure which appears to be old, grimy, oily and dirty reaches right across the stage. In the centre on the ground floor there is a large old green double door with a heavy bolt across it. To the left there’s a white door and on the right there’s a grey door with an emergency push handle on it. Both doors have green fire escape signs lit above them. On either end of the structure there are metal staircases that lead up to a first-floor gantry platform that runs the length of the ground floor. There are metal guardrails along the gantry too. Around the double door there are some bright yellow safety girders and to the right of the door there’s a vertical safety ladder that sits at 90 degrees to the gantry.
In each stair case there are tin lampshades with bulbs each emitting a dim light and on the first floor there are two wall lights high on the yellow girders also emitting dim light. On the ground floor there is one wall light that’s above a light switch.
Underneath each stairwell there are buckets, boxes, bits of rope, tools, tool boxes, crates and end of a girder poking out.
Every so often there is a crack, a puff of smoke and a flash of sparks from the factory steelworks as there has been water damage inside to some of the electrical equipment.
The Working Men’s Club
The metal frame is separated into three parts, turned around and now it is the back of the local working men’s club. There’s a fire escape stairwell on the structure on the left and the back door of the club is to the right of this. Around the door frame of the club there are faint blue and red lights pulsing signifying the event on inside. To the right, the other structure forms the wall in the alleyway with a large black and white poster of the Chippendales and beside that there’s an industrial green wheeled rubbish bin. On top of the wall above the bin and the poster there is a walkway.
Mandy’s House
The set is moved once again and now it’s the front of Mandy’s house. There’s a white front door with brass number 136 on it. The door is on the left and there is a plain wall on the right.
The Job Club
The set is moved again, the metal frames are pushed out to the side and a back wall is lowered in. On the back wall there’s a window with vertical blinds above a radiator and to the right of that a sign that reads – ‘job club’ which is above 6 wall mounted blue pin boards.
In the front of the job club on the left, there’s a desk and chair with a computer at it. On the right-hand side there’s a table with three blue chairs and behind them a large free standing notice board with a no smoking sign and small notices, a clip board and some manilla folders.
There are two long fluorescent lights hanging from the ceiling that are lowered down.
The Factory Steelworks
Inside the factory steelworks from a different angle this time, the main double door is now at a 45-degree angle and the vertical ladder that runs up the side of it. Both stairwells are also present and there is a chain with a hook hanging from the front corner of the structure at the top of the gantry.
The Conservative Club
The conservative club has a green back wall clad with dark green frame moulding, there’s a large crest on the left of the wall and on the right of the wall a lit portrait of Margaret Thatcher. Between the crest and the portrait there is a petite wall light with two little lamps.
Hanging from the ceiling there is a modest chandelier over the dancefloor. On the left of the room there are some storage cupboards covered up by a dark green curtain and on the right there’s a green double door. Further right there’s a fire escape door.
George Barnsley’s
On the back wall of George Barnsley’s there are three large arched windows with the cityscape of Sheffield behind them. There is a white door on the left and two long fluorescent lights are once again hanging from the ceiling. On the left of the room there is one plain office chair and, on the right, there are two executive high-backed chairs.
In the Park
The park features a long red metal bench in the centre with its back to the view of the city from high up. On either side of the bench the stairwells are just poking in and are populated with characters who are only silhouetted.
As the set moves back into the steelworks a dancer that has been on the stairwell dances down provocatively as the set moves.
In the dole queue
At the dole office there’s a small white single person cabin on the left. It has a yellow curtain in the back of it and there’s a radio on the ledge. There’s just enough room for the dole officer to stand and talk to one person from the queue at a time. The queue of people are standing at 90 degrees next to a wall that has a set of double doors and a single door on the right. There are 3 long fluorescent lights hanging from the ceiling and as the radio music gets louder the light shines brighter from the booth highlighting the people in the queue.
The Police Station
The police station room appears harshly lit and drab, the stairwells are on either side of the interview room acting as walls. There’s a table at the front left with two chairs on either side. On top of the table there’s an interview recorder. In the back of the room there’s a large darkened window and in front of that there’s a long bench with 4 chairs attached to it. Under the right stairwell there’s a TV and video recorder set on wheels. There’s a singular fluorescent light hanging from the ceiling in the middle.
In the Working Men’s club
Inside the working men’s club there’s a stairwell on the far left and a white door to the right of this. The stairs lead to a balcony that’s just above the top left of the stage.
In the centre is the stage which features thick metal bars above it holding the stage lights. At the back of the stage there’s a full-length purple curtain. This drops just before the performance revealing a sparkling long tinsel blue curtain with fifteen sets of four spotlights behind the curtain that pulse low and high in time with the music.
Within the same setting, the outside of the club is lit up on the right-hand side stairwell while the stage is in darkness. Nathan and Gaz have a conversation and when they go inside the lights dim on the outside stairwell and come back up on the stage.
When the men are performing the industrial green bin is wheeled on from behind the tinsel curtain. It has had fairy lights attached around it and graffiti on the front of it reads ‘Bums of Steel’. The performers also use confetti cannons at one point, shooting confetti up into the air and all over their stage.
Cast
Main characters
Danny Hatchard as Gaz
Neil Hurst as Dave
Cass Dempsey / Theo Hills / Rowan Poulton / Jack Wisniewski as Nathan
Bill Ward as Gerald
Jake Quickenden as Guy
Ben Onwukwe as Horse
Nicholas Prasad as Lomper
Katy Dean as Jean
Oliver Joseph as Barry/Terry/Interviewer
Laura Matthews as Mandy/Michelle
Danny Mellor as Phil/Policeman
Adam Porster Smith as Alan/Alf/Dance student/Interviewer
Suzanne Procter as Linda/Annie/Bee
Alice Schofield as Sharon/Job Centre employee/Social worker
Leon Stoltz-Hunter as Brian/Interviewer/Police Sergeant
Jacki Van Holloway as understudy
Costumes
All the characters wear clothing of the 1990s. The men typically wear jeans and t-shirts or polo shirts or tracksuits with the exception of Gerald who wears a suit and Horse who wears suit trousers and a soft brown jacket.
Gaz
Gaz is a medium build man of average height with brown short brown hair. He wears a maroon bomber jacket, black jeans and white polo shirt with a blue stripe across the chest. When he’s in training for the show he wears a blue polo shirt and grey jogging bottoms. Gaz wears white boxer shorts.
Dave
Dave is a heavy-set man of average height and he wears a blue bomber jacket with pale blue jeans and a dark blue polo shirt with horizontal blue, green and white stripes. Dave wears grey boxer shorts.
Gerald
Gerald is a tall slim man with greying hair and he wears glasses to read. He firstly wears a dark grey suit with an off-white shirt and plain grey tie and brown shoes. When Gerald is in the Conservative club, he wears a green sleeveless wool jumper over his shirt with brown trousers. Later on, Gerald wears a brown suit with a striped tie, off white shirt and a long tan trench coat and brown shoes. He wears a bright blue adidas tracksuit with a white t-shirt and white trainers when they are training for the show. Gerald wears grey boxer shorts.
Lomper.
Lomper is a young man, average height with glasses and light facial hair. When Lomper is first introduced he is wearing a security guard’s outfit, comprising of dark blue blazer, white shirt with blue epaulettes, a dark blue tie, dark blue trousers and black shoes, he also wears a dark blue service cap. In later scenes he wears a maroon anorak over his uniform. He then wears an oversized blue checked shirt open, over a green polo shirt with a green tie, pale blue jeans and black shoes. When Lomper is training he wears grey jogging bottoms, white trainers and a blue t-shirt along with his security baseball cap. Lomper wears teal y-fronts.
Nathan
Nathan is a young boy, Gaz and Mandy’s son. He wears an oversized sheepskin coat with a blue hoody and white t-shirt underneath. He has black jeans and black and white trainers.
Alan
Alan is a short man of medium build who wears a teal ski tracksuit with a white polo shirt underneath and white trainers. Alan later wears pale blue jeans with a satin blotchy dark pink, blue and green shirt and white trainers.
Jean
Jean has shoulder length brown hair with a fringe and wears high waisted jeans. a black glittery top with a short silvery blazer and white shoes. She also carries a cross body black purse. She later wears a ¼ zip polo fleece that’s aqua and peach with a white stripe across the chest, with this she wears pale jeans and white trainers. When she wears this outfit at work, she wears a blue floral tabard over the top of it.
Mandy
Mandy has blonde shoulder length curly hair and wears a purple blazer with a black polo neck, jeans and brown loafers. Later on, she wears a lilac jumpsuit with a dark purple polo neck underneath and slippers on her feet. In her last scene Mandy wears a purple waist length coat with a maroon polo neck, a knee length denim skirt and knee-high black boots.
Horse
Horse is a tall slim older gentleman with facial hair who wears a tan jacket that appears too big on him, he’s also wearing a brown cardigan over a tan striped shirt with brown braces, tan trousers and brown shoes. Horse wears long johns under his trousers.
Guy
Guy is a tall muscular young man with brown hair and dark facial hair consisting of a beard and moustache that is well groomed. He wears a dark blue and white tracksuit top and pale blue jeans with white trainers when we are first introduced to him. In later scenes he wears dark blue shorts with a green vest and his white trainers. Guy has striped briefs.
Sharon
Sharon has tied back brown hair a shimmery gold blazer, with a stripey black and red top underneath, dark blue jeans and brown high heeled boots. She’s also carrying a small cross body black purse.
Linda
Linda is a well-dressed woman with very blonde shoulder length wavy hair. When we’re first introduced to Linda at the Conservative Club, she is wearing a bright blue 2-piece suit dress with a ruffle bottomed top and knee length skirt and white shoes. When she goes to change her shoes, she comes back wearing a different skirt and top that is much darker blue and now has on green shoes. When Linda is in the Job Club, she is wearing a blue and green floral dress with shoulder pads, she has a black handbag and green shoes.
Barry
Barry wears a cream bomber jacket, stripey cream sweater with a black shirt underneath, jeans and black shoes.
Bee
Bee has platinum blonde shoulder length straight hair with a ponytail right on the top of her head. She’s wearing a sparkly black blazer with a black dress underneath; the dress has a triple ruffled bottom. She also has a small cross body black purse and she wears knee high black patent high heeled boots.
When the men are performing their strip show they wear dark blue imitation police officer suits with glittery silver embellishments on the shoulders, the hat and the lapels. They wear pale blue shirts with dark blue ties and black belts. Under their suits they have white vests and white boxers and underneath that they have white boxers and underneath that pale blue thongs.
Creative team
Director - Michael Gyngell
Choreography and Intimacy director – Ian West
Set and Costume Design – Jasmine Swan
Lighting Design – Andrew Exeter
Sound Design – Chris Whybrow
Casting Director – Marc Frankum
