Hit comedy The Full Monty has announced it will close on 29 March after just over a month in the West End.
The Sheffield Theatres production about a group of out-of-work steelworkers with nothing to lose was originally booking at the Nöel Coward Theatre until 14 June 2014.
Following its critically acclaimed opening on 25 February, when it was described by Official London Theatre’s Matthew Amer as “A feel-good triumph with a handful of eye-grabbing surprises”, the show celebrated an Olivier Award nomination last week.
Talking about the show’s imminent closure, producers David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers said: “It is with great sadness that this show will close despite having played to packed houses on its UK tour. Simply not enough of a West End audience shared in the excitement of this terrific production.”
Adapted by Simon Beaufoy, the screenwriter behind the classic film, and directed by Sheffield Theatres’ Artistic Director Daniel Evans, The Full Monty’s cast includes Kenny Doughty, Craig Gazey, Simon Rouse, Keiran O’Brien, Roger Morlidge and Sidney Cole.
Despite its premature closure, it is not the end of the road for the show that was recognised alongside Jeeves And Wooster In Perfect Nonsense, The Duck House and The Same Deep Water As Me in the Best New Comedy category at last week’s Olivier Awards nominations. The Full Monty will continue its journey around the country from 11 September, when it begins a further 32-week tour at the Manchester Opera House.