Since it first became a 'national treasure' of a film, the Full Monty (which started life as a stage drama) has become a much-loved touring play with music, writes Globe theatre critic Peter Grant...

It is based closely on the low-budget smash hit movie and has very strong Northern humour as its backbone.

It is also surprisingly poignant and indeed moving at times.

The fact is The Full Monty is not just about male strippers - despite the posters.

Stripping is just one brief encounter in the layered plot set in Thatcher's Britain.

It touches on many issues from unemployment, poverty, depression, sexual equality, suicide and homosexuality.

But there's plenty of laughs from a top notch cast.

You are quickly made to genuinely care about a group of Sheffield steel workers thrown on the scrap heap.

A scrap heap they would gladly sell for cash.

Our hero, the in-debt Gaz, is a single dad desperate to bond again with his son Nathan while his wife wants nothing more to do with him.

Eating chips together means a lot in this father and son relationship.

There are tender moments from Gaz played with supreme confidence by telly favourite Gary Lucy.

When the chips are down he realises there is a chance to make some money.

If celebrity strippers The Chippendales can do it then so can he with his Bums of Steel troupe managed by his son and featuring his reluctant pals from the job centre.

Fraser Kelly gives the best portrayal of Nathan I have seen in many years of reviewing this feel good show.

There are, of course, a great range of other very watchable characters.

Local star Louis Emerick is back as Horse.

TV and stage veteran Louis clearly relishes the role as do the predominantly female audience who cheered him as Horse limped on to his home town stage.

There's all the favourite scenes from the movie on an adaptable two-tier set that turns from a warehouse to the very club where the Sheffield six will strip in front of a baying female crowd. The two and half production is crisply directed by Rupert Hill.

And you can't go wrong with a soundtrack featuring Tom Jones, Donna Summer and Hot Chocolate.

A sparkling, uplifting finale deserved the standing ovation.

The Full Monty will be around for years to come quite simply because its all encompassing subject matter is, sadly, timeless.

Four stars - Slick and well-oiled!

On at the Liverpool Empire until Saturday, March 23. For tickets call the box office on 0844 871 3017.