AN all-star cast led by Hollyoaks and Eastenders star Gary Lucy will be letting it all hang out in a funny and heart-warming production of The Full Monty at the Wyvern Theatre in Swindon next month.

Sheffield Theatre’s production of Simon Beaufoy’s award-winning stage play, based on the film, opened at Cheltenham’s Everyman Theatre at the beginning of a nine-month tour of the UK and Ireland.

Gary Lucy, who played Luke Morgan in Hollyoaks, plays the part of Gaz. He is joined by Andrew Dunn, star of Dinnerladies, who plays factory foreman Gerald, Louis Emerick (Mike Thornberry in Coronation Street) as Horse, Joe Gill (Finn Barton in Emmerdale) as Lomper, Kai Owen (Rhys in Torchwood) as Dave and James Redmond (Hollyoaks and Casualty) as Guy.

The Full Monty is the story of six out-of-work steelworkers from Sheffield in the 1980s, who decide the best way to make some money is to organise a strip show. It includes some challenging themes around unemployment, mental illness and suicide – as well as men’s body image and homophobia. Yet despite the gravity of the subject, it is a show with lots of humour, a great soundtrack – and lots of bare bottoms.

Essex-born Gary Lucy said the play was his first stage job: “I’ve been doing it for four years now. We all have a really great time, and that really shows.”

He said the show was a career highlight for him. Another one was his role in the Hollyoaks rape storyline.

“It was a real baptism of fire. I was only 17. It was the first time male rape had been covered on British television and it was extremely well received. I won Best Newcomer at the British Soap Awards.”

Andrew Dunn said this was his third tour with the Full Monty production.

“We had a fantastic first night. It’s a well known cast, and it went like a dream.”

He said getting their kit off on stage was not to daunting: “The worst moment was when it was just the six of us for the first time in rehearsal. After we’d done it, everyone scurried off into the corners to get their clothes on again!”

This won’t be the first time Andrew has visited Swindon – he remembers performing in a two-hander called September in the Rain with Andrina Carroll at the Wyvern in the late 1980s.

He said sometimes the audience for The Full Monty got quite lively, with people standing up and cheering at the play’s famous climax.

Listen out for songs by Donna Summer, Hot Chocolate, Tom Jones, and a host of hits from the 80s too.

The play runs at the Wyvern Theatre from Monday October 29 to Saturday November 3, with matinee performances on Wednesday and Saturday. Tickets are £27.50- £35. To book, call 01793 524481 or visit swindontheatres.co.uk.