Sheffield play The Full Monty tours to Salford, 15 April

A new play based on hit 1997 film The Full Monty will have its première in the story’s spiritual home town of Sheffield in February 2013 followed by a tour – stopping off at Salford in April.

Oscar-winning writer Simon Beaufoy has adapted his own screenplay about a group of unemployed steel workers who form a troupe of male strippers. The adaptation will be Beaufoy’s first work for the theatre. His screen credits include Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, 127 Hours and the adaptation of Slumdog Millionaire which earned him an Academy Award, a Golden Globe and a BAFTA.

Beaufoy – a Yorkshireman himself – 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.”

Beaufoy was not involved in the 2000 Americanized stage musical version with a book by Terrence McNally and score by David Yazbek which relocated the action to Buffalo, New York.

Songs from the film which will be retained in the show include Hot Chocolate’s “You Sexy Thing”, Donna Summer’s “Hot Stuff” and possibly Tom Jones performing “You Can Leave Your Hat On”. Additional numbers by Right Said Fred and Marc Almond and the Bee Gees may be added.

The Full Monty will be co-produced by Sheffield Theatres with West End producing partners David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers. Robert Jones (Wizard of Oz, Calendar Girls) will design.

The Full Monty runs at the Lowry from 15 – 20 April, 2013.