The Full Monty ready to bare all ... but not for those under 16

Asia's premiere stage production of The Full Monty has led the Hong Kong Singers to limit its audience to 16 years or over for the first time in its 76-year history.

But despite being a stage musical adaptation of the British comedy male striptease movie, it is the swearing, not the nudity, that has earned it the more mature rating.

'Profanity features every few seconds. Some people may like it, some may not,' director Arvin Robles said.

'That is why it is for an audience of 16 years and above. It is the first time we've had an age restriction since the Singers was set up 76 years ago.

'Often we have Gilbert and Sullivan or Rogers and Hammerstein productions, but this one is quite a departure, it's edgy,' he added.

Robles said putting on a musical about six men preparing to perform a 'full monty' - English slang for the whole thing, or in this case, full frontal nudity - did not mean the show ran into difficulty with Hong Kong's censorship body, the Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority.

'We haven't had any issue with Tela. Although it seems to be about nudity, just like the film, the nudity is very minimal. It's all to do with how it is portrayed. It's merely an illusion of nudity,' he said.