Gary Lucy to star in The Full Monty UK Tour

It has been announced that Gary Lucy will lead the new touring company of The Full Monty. The cast also includes Andrew Dunn, Louis Emerick, Rupert Hill, Martin Miller and Bobby Schofield, with further casting to be announced.

The Full Monty opens at the Manchester Opera House on Monday 15th September (previews from 11th September) before touring the UK until 23rd May 2015. Take a look at Gary Lucy posing for promotional images below (click on picture to enlarge).

GOSSIP: Hampstead's Good People starring Imelda Staunton to transfer to the Noel Coward Theatre?

According to WhatsOnStage, David Lindsay-Abaire's new play Good People, which premiered at the Hampstead Theatre earlier this month starring Imelda Staunton, could transfer to the West End's Noel Coward Theatre.

Jonathan Kent's production, which runs at the Hampstead Theatre until Saturday 5th April, would follow The Full Monty which is now scheduled to close on Saturday 29th March. Shakespeare in Love premieres at the Noel Coward Theatre in July.

Simon Beaufoy signs petition against The Full Monty's West End closure

The Full Monty opened at the Noel Coward Theatre last month and was booking until Saturday 14th June 2014. However, over the weekend cast member Kenny Doughty revealed the show would instead close on Saturday 29th March 2014. 

An online petition against the show's closure has been set up which 1,048 people have already signed, including the play's writer, Simon Beaufoy. 

CONFIRMED: The Full Monty to close 29th March

Kenny Doughty (pictured right) has confirmed that the West End production of The Full Monty will end its West End run on Saturday 29th March 2014. The production was scheduled to run at the Noel Coward Theatre until Saturday 14th June 2014.

Doughty, who stars as Gaz in the production, released a full statement via Facebook reading:

"I’m devastated and heart broken.

"Yesterday, on the day we had 2 full houses and 2 standing ovations. In the week our play got an Olivier nomination we were given the shocking news that the play is being pulled.

Gossip: The Full Monty to close?

Rumours have emerged that the West End production of The Full Monty may close sooner than planned. It has been reported that the cast were given their notice last night (Saturday 15th March 2014) meaning the production, which opened at the Noel Coward Theatre last month, could close as soon as Saturday 29th March.

Speculation about the show's future emerged last night when cast member Kenny Doughty revealed that the show had "been pulled". Writing on Twitter he said: "Today - 2 standing ovations. Sold out shows - an Olivier nomination. It's with a heavy heart I announce we've been pulled. How? Why?". 

Review: The Full Monty at the Noel Coward Theatre

The Full Monty
Noel Coward Theatre
Reviewed on Tuesday 25th February 2014

Following its premiere last year in Sheffield and subsequent UK Tour, Daniel Evans' production of The Full Monty has opened at the Noel Coward theatre and last night proved it is fully deserving of a West End transfer. It is an utter joy to see a new play which is up to scratch and ready for a triumphant West End run.

Big Interview: Kenny Doughty, currently starring in The Full Monty

Kenny Doughty is currently leading the cast of the West End transfer of The Full Monty which opens at the Noel Coward Theatre tonight (25th February 2014).

The Full Monty has been adapted by Oscar-winning writer Simon Beaufoy from his own screenplay about a group of unemployed steel workers who form a troupe of male strippers. The play also stars Craig Gazey (Lumper), Simon Rouse (Gerald), Kieran O’Brien (Guy), Roger Morlidge (Dave) and Sidney Cole (Horse).

Kenny’s theatre credits include: Small Change (Sherman, Cardiff), Troilus & Cressida (Old Vic), Accomplices (National Theatre at Crucible Theatre, Sheffield) and Present Laughter (Royal Exchange).

Just a few of his extensive television credits include: Stella, Paradox, New Tricks, Spooks Code 9, Empress’ New Clothes, Shameless, Goldplated and Blue Murder. Kenny’s film credits include: Snowpiercer, I Against I, The Strange Case of Wilheim Reich, Asylum Blackout, City Rats, The Crew, Irreversi and he won Best Actor Award at Palm Beach International Film Festival for Aryan Couple.

I recently went backstage at the Noel Coward theatre to speak to Kenny in his dressing room about why it’s the perfect time to bring The Full Monty to the West End, the huge response the play receives from audiences and how he felt when his mother-in-law brought a coach load of women from Manchester to see the show…

The Full Monty was a huge success last year. What was it like having a break and then returning to the show? Did it feel strange at first?

It was only strange because I had missed it! We made a few tweaks during the interim and we’ve just had a lovely month back on the road so it was nice to reacquaint ourselves with what we had done before and then come into the West End. This time round I feel like we’ve really got the play back, there were certain moments towards the end of last year’s tour when the theatres got so big that we forgot the story. We had done it so often so it’s been great to re-focus, re-rehearse it and really come back to what the play is about.