IT’S been 16 years since a British film about six out of work Sheffield steelworkers with nothing to lose took the world by storm.

Now they’re back, live on stage, in The Full Monty.

Simon Beaufoy, the Oscar-winning writer of the film, has now gone back to Sheffield where it all started to rediscover the men, the women, the heartache and the hilarity of a city on the dole.

And he’s not the only one the tale strikes a chord with. Star of TV comedy Stella, Kenny Doughty, plays Gaz in the production.

He told Lorelei Reddin: “This story means a lot to me. I’m from Barnsley, six miles away. My family were miners and we went through the whole mining strikes and the closures of the pits. The story of the Sheffield steelworkers definitely resonates with me. I understand the identity crisis and what it was to be a man at that time. I think a lot of people can relate to it.

“The film was iconic in our house. We adored watching it – it was a wonderful film and huge fun.

“I’m thrilled to be part of this. It manages to keep all the lovely moments people adore from the film, but I think there’s even more poignancy and clarity with the story and narrative.

“We’ve all got on brilliantly since the first day of rehearsals. Naked Tuesdays was a tradition that had to stop though, we were all getting a bit carried away!”

The show also stars Craig Gazey, who won the National TV Award for his portrayal of Graeme Proctor in Coronation Street as Lumper and Simon Rouse, The Bill’s DCI Jack Meadows, as Gerald.

n Featuring songs from the film by Donna Summer, Hot Chocolate and Tom Jones, The Full Monty is at The Mayflower from Monday to Saturday.