They are not the polished Chippendales with bodies honed to perfection but these lovable strippers promise to "go all the way".

And of course they do because it's The Full Monty and the audience at The Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury was not disappointed if cheers, wolfwhistles and a standing ovation is anything to go by.

The opening night of the stage production of the 1997 film of the same name was an absolute blast. Chock full of cheekiness, it wasn't just the glint in star Gary Lucy's (Gaz) eyes as the Hollyoaks heartthrob cast his saucy gaze around the audience, there was his soap stablemate James Redmond's (Guy's) surprising rear view and get ready to catch the lads' clothes as they strip them away.

There is so much to love in this story of a mismatched crew of redundant Sheffield steelworkers who bare all to get their dignity back.

Cast on the unemployment scrapheap during the steel industry collapse of the late 70s and early 80s, the men's struggle for daily survival and to rediscover a sense of self worth is deftly told.

Gaz has the idea that the lads can do a striptease after standing outside a sell-out Chippendales' show at the men's club from which he and his former workmates are banned.

The unlikely novice dancers begin to limber up in the derelict plant where they were once employed and with a little help from Gaz's son Nathan, powerfully played by Fraser Kelly, who turns the music tables and ploughs his pocket money into the project, they eventually come good. Their ex-boss Gerald. played by Andrew Dunn, also a dance teacher, shows them all the moves.

In a classic scene from the film that stars Robert Carlyle, the steelworkers queue up for their benefits at the job club, but each find their limbs moving involuntary when Donna Summer's Hot Stuff plays over a transistor radio the clerk has on her desk, such is the dance routine inprinted on their minds.

Obstacles are thrown in the men's way and the play hangs tantalisingly on the question of will they or won't they ever get to do their show. We have to wait for opening night of the 'Bums of Steel' performance to see if they all make it to the stage.

It's uplifting stuff, yet Simon Beaufoy's award-winning play doesn't shy away from the serious issues that make it such a bitter-sweet delight.

Unemployment, challenges to masculinity, sexuality, impotence and the class divide are all wrapped up in the darkly comic mix, but ultimately it is the men's spirit that shines through.

It all ends in a feel good factor that's hard to beat, proven by the loud cheers, whoops, whistles and giggles that filled The Marlowe auditorium for the strip tease finale to Tom Jones's You Can Leave Your Hat On - and what a finale it was.

Don't miss it.

The Full Monty is on its final tour and you can see it at the Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury until Saturday, February 2. To book tickets visit marlowetheatre.com or call 01227 787787.