Boy In The Buff

Golden Goose Theatre

Playing until 10th January 2026

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Photo credit: Peter Davies

{PR Gifted ticket}

Glamorous mother figure Maxie (Tish Weinman) leads the troupe of titular boys as they prepare for their big show where they end up stripping down to — you guessed it — the buff. But shy Phil (Adam Norton) has reservations about revealing all, so the boys and Maxie empower him and each other by sharing stories about body image, self-love, and the power of being true to yourself.

Phil’s apprehension to get naked on stage is the only real sort of tension or conflict in Boys in the Buff; it’s more of a revue than a musical. Nonetheless, writer Chris Burgess has crafted some really engaging and entertaining numbers, from the ludicrous ‘My Foreskin and Me’ to Maxie’s solo number about gender identity (a boa draped around their neck in the colours of the non-binary flag is a lovely touch). Director and Choreographer Robbie O’Reilly blends different dance styles — including tap, ballet, and even the Charleston — to make every number unique and visually engaging.

Many of the numbers lean heavily on themes related to physical insecurities, but the messages of self-acceptance become repetitive. While Burgess has a knack for writing a catchy tune, the similar thematic content of the songs mean that several numbers feel like they could be interchangeable, adding little to the show in terms of narrative or character development. Also, for a show that speaks so much to the importance of embracing bodies of different sizes, it’s impossible to ignore the glaring irony that the four boys all have white, slim, smooth bodies that fit into the typical Western ideals of attractiveness. For the messages to truly land, it would have been nice to see the production practice what it preaches by embracing a more diverse selection of body types.

But this is not to say that the four boys aren’t fun to watch. Alongside sensitive Phil (played with gentle charm by Norton) are Richard (Liam Bradbury), Luca (Max Rizzo) and Dan (Rowan Armitt-Brewster), each of whom gets a memorable solo number, albeit with a few sound issues on the press night making some of the lyrics get lost.

Maxie is the real heart of the show, and Weinman brings the perfect amount of tenderness to a character who is otherwise lumped with some of the dodgiest jokes in the script. Weinman has a commanding presence that anchors the show with a believable confidence.

It’s not quite The Full Monty, but Boys In The Buff is a unique piece of full-frontal fun.

Creatives

Words and Music - Chris Burgess

Director and Choreographer - Robbie O’Reilly

Musical Director - Aaron Clingham

Lighting Designer - Richard Lambert

Set and Costume Designer - Alan Meggs