Words and Music: Chris Bradley
Director: Robbie O’Reilly
This show is wickedly funny and really does (eventually) deliver what the title implies. More striking, however, is its sensitive and thorough examination of a pretty serious topic: body image.
The premise is that five young men, one of whom is a drag artist, are a band in their dressing room preparing for a show called Boys in the Buff. It will involve nudity, and one of them is very reluctant to strip off. Cue for discussion, revelations and songs. There is no plot, as such.
The issues include covering up the bits you don’t like, wearing corsets, revealing all in changing rooms, memories of school bullying, size matters, dieting, gyms and a lot more. The Fat Jab Rag is apparently new for this incarnation of the show, which has been around for several years now. My Foreskin And Me is enough to distress anyone, poignantly funny as it is. How can any parent deliberately and pointlessly mutilate a baby boy for “cultural reasons”, thereby rendering him an “amputee”, as Richard (Liam Bradbury – good despite voice problems on press night) contends he is here?
It’s a pretty lively show with strong physicality and lots of good architectural shapes thanks to Robbie O’Reilly’s direction and choreography. There’s a hilarious scene involving a sheet and suggestive silhouettes with dildos et al. The songs are strong, and the contrasts between the characters are nicely highlighted. Tish Wienman glitters as Maxie, the tall, stage commanding leader of the group. Rowan Armitt-Brewster as Dan does rough-edged attitude perfectly, and Maz Rizzo’s Luca is warmly vulnerable. Phil (Adam Norton), meanwhile, is of a smaller build and seems younger. He does youthful apprehensiveness convincingly.
This show is about male insecurity and finding the confidence to be yourself. Much of its message, however, applies equally to women. The physical details differ, but the same tenets apply. Bodies need to be accepted and respected for what they are, irrespective of gender detail.
At the same time as exploring these difficult questions, Boys in the Buff manages to be laughter-filled, cheeky entertainment. Just wait for the final couple of minutes with the ballet, leaps and somersaults, and you’ll go home smiling.
Runs until 10 January 2026
