The Naked Neds
by Ingram Noble
Harbour Arts Centre, Irvine
14 September 2024
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ingram Noble's new comedy play 'The Naked Neds' follows a group of young lads from Glasgow as they navigate life after their best friend's death. In a world where politicians expenses seem to matter more than NHS waiting lists, these friends decide to take matters into their own hands. After several failed fundraising attempts, they decide there’s only one solution: The Full Monty - Glasgow style. But as they prepare to bare all, Paul finds a lump on his testicles.
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Although 'The Naked Neds' tackles some very serious topics including suicide, testicular cancer and fat-phobia to name but a few, it is undoubtedly a comedy. Ingram Noble is a skilled playwright, but he particularly excels when it comes to writing authentic, sharp Scottish humour. The laughs come fast and often in 'The Naked Neds'.
When we first meet Paul, Tony, Jamie and Harry in the Fox and Hound pub they are toasting the recently deceased fifth member of their five-a-side football team. But this is Glasgow; they are cracking jokes and teasing each other as they honour their fallen mate... That's how Glaswegians tackle most scenarios - with grace, good humour and a deluge of spectacular swearing.
As the boys move forward with their lives, they find that their friend's death looms over them. They despair at the lack of support for mental health, and wonder if they could have done more. As if they don't have enough to contend with, one member of the group soon finds a lump "down below". The neds all rally round, but when attempts to raise awareness and funds for both causes fail, the boys, with the help of barmaid Bev (the wonderful Tanya MacDonald) arrange to perform "The Full Monty" for one night only, in the terrifying environment of their local pub.
The neds get themselves into all sorts of hilarious scenarios in the run up to their performance, and the sharp jokes and friendly insults fly at pace. The audience were in uporar. Spoiler alert: This play really does feature the cast doing 'The Full Monty'. So if you've come to the theatre in the hope of seeing a bit of pasty Scottish flesh, well, you're in luck. Kudos to the full cast for their fearless performances.
As much fun as the audience were having, 'The Naked Neds' has a very important, educational message at its core. Testicular cancer, or 'baw cancer' as the neds call it, is the most common cancer among UK men aged 15-45. 2,400 men are diagnosed in the UK each year; that’s more than 6 men per day. But survival rates for testicular cancer have also risen every year since the 1970s. If detected in its early stages, testicular cancer is 96% curable. (Thanks to Cahonas for these facts!)
At one point in this show the neds walk us through exactly (step by step!) how to check yourself. Has this ever been done as part of a theatre performance before? I don't know. But either way, it's a brave but necessary statement. If the arts can be used to not only entertain but to raise awareness and save lives, then all the better. (Don't worry, we don't see any actual balls - the lads face away from the audience while performing the demonstration.)
The Naked Neds has no set; the success of the piece falls firmly on the strength of the book, the direction and performances. We have two young actors making their professional debuts in this play (Lucian Burlingame and Aidan Curley), who alongside veteran talents John Stuart and Ingram Noble, give such poignant, credible performances that members of the audience were full on sobbing when they weren't laughing.
As with all good plays, information is revealed to the audience gradually: just when you think you know the story, another layer, another twist punches you in the gut. This is exactly the sort of new and important writing that needs more financial support in Scotland. At a bargain £14 per ticket tops, there are certainly no frills here. But with likeable characters facing relatable life challenges, a concise narrative and a bucketload of laughs - with some money behind it, The Naked Neds has the potential to soar and hopefully reach the wider audience it deserves.
The Naked Neds is a show about friendship, about the tragedies and obstacles that life throws at us. It's about Testicular Cancer and young men who find it difficult to confide in their mates. But it's also just a well-written, funny, entertaining night out at the theatre. And if you've heard that it's Glasgow's version of the full monty... then yes, there's that too.
The Naked Neds have partnered with Scottish Charity Cahonas Scotland. Visit their website to find out more about testicular cancer and their amazing work.
🔗 Find Cahonas self-check guide here https://www.cahonasscotland.org/self-check-guide
The Naked Neds Cast and Creatives
CAST
PAUL Lucian Burlingame
TONY John Stuart
JAMIE Ingram Noble
HARRY Aidan Curley
BEV Tanya MacDonald
CREATIVE TEAM
Written and Directed by Ingram Noble
📸 production photos: Scott Spiden
The Naked Neds review, Ingram Noble, Scottish Theatre.
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🎟️ Disclosure: I was invited to review this show and received a complimentary ticket in exchange. Neither the venue nor show has a say in what I write. I'm completely independent and invites have no impact on my analysis or star ratings.
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