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Magic Mike-style strip show cancelled for being 'too raunchy'

Jessica Johnsonand
Meleri Williams,BBC Wales, Reporting from Swansea
Swansea Council cancelled the strip show for being 'too raunchy'

The frontman of a male strip show says he was "disappointed" after indirectly finding out one of its performances had been cancelled for being "too raunchy".

The Magic Men Australia World Tour, featuring choreographed routines, shirtless dancers and audience interaction, was set to perform at Brangwyn Hall, Swansea, on Friday.

Headliner William Parfitt said he found out about the cancellation "one week" before the show was set to take place, although he was not officially informed of the decision by either the venue or the council at the time.

Swansea Council apologised, and said it had taken the decision not to let the Magic Men show go ahead following "concerns raised with us".

In a statement, a spokesperson for the council added: "We're sorry for the disappointment this will cause."

Parfitt said he had only received a response regarding the nature of the cancellation after he had contacted the organisers.

He said the explanation was "extremely vague" with references made to concerns that the show was considered "too raunchy".

News imageWilliam Parfitt William Parfitt wears a white, long-sleeve shirt buttoned half way. He holds a microphone in his left hand and stands with his back to a large crowd of people, who are holding their phones in the air with the torch lit. William Parfitt
Frontman William Parfitt says it's "incredibly disappointing" for the "hundreds of women looking forward to attending"

In an Instagram post, TikTok star Parfitt said "I never thought that we would get cancelled in Wales for being too raunchy", adding that it was "a first for Magic Men Australia".

Parfitt described the decision as "incredibly disappointing" - not only for the team who had spent "considerable time and money preparing" - but also for "the hundreds of women who were looking forward to attending".

News imageWilliam Parfitt Seven of the Magic Men cast posing on a stage, bare-chested. They are smiling at the camera, with some holding their arms in the air, and others flexing their muscles. Crowd members can be seen in the background.William Parfitt
The Magic Men Australia World Tour was set to perform at Brangwyn Hall on Friday but was cancelled over concerns about it being "too raunchy"

Reacting to the cancellation, 20-year-old Grace Rogerson said people should be "able to go and see what they want".

"If it's a show being put on and people have bought tickets for it, I think you're well within your rights to go and see it," she said.

"And I think the arts is something that should not be censored," the student added.

Tracey Garey, 61, from Swansea, was shocked to hear it had been cancelled.

"Those ladies wanted a good night, going out to enjoy and going out for a laugh," she said.

"I went to see the Chippendales from a distance... each to their own."

News imageGrace Rogerson stands on a highstreet in swansea city. She has red mid length hair and blue eyes and smiles at the camera. She is 20 years old.
Grace Rogerson says "the arts is not something that should be censored"

But others were not convinced the venue was the right location for the show, as Audrey Chapman, 86, and her friend, Vera, 84, asked why Swansea Council had agreed to it the first place.

"The Brangwyn Hall is not for something like that, for starters. They could find a club to do that in," said Audrey.

Considered one of Swansea's "landmarks" Brangwyn Hall is a Grade II listed building, which has previously hosted a number of acts, ranging from Queen, to the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Manic Street Preachers.

News imageVera Hopkins, 84, (L) and Audrey Chapman, 86, (R) both from Swansea. Vera has short silver hair and wears a poppy on the lapel of her blazer. Audrey has short ginger hair and wears a poppy on her purple floral anorak. They both smile at the camera.
Vera Hopkins, 84, (L) and Audrey Chapman, 86, (R) both agreed the show did not suit the Grade II listed Brangwyn Hall

Lian Cruz, 19, agreed it was not a fitting location and claimed the show sounded "a bit weird".

"I wouldn't have thought that Swansea would do that, in Brangwyn Hall," he said.

"I mean, if it was too raunchy, it was too raunchy.

"I wouldn't want that here," he added.

Ticket holders have been contacted and informed they will receive a full refund.

Parfitt told his TikTok followers that any Swansea ticket-holders booking an alternative show elsewhere in the UK would be upgraded to VIPs, promising "a meet-and-greet with the boys" so fans could decide for themselves whether the show is too raunchy.

He said the team "sincerely hope to return to Swansea in the near future with a venue that welcomes the show" and give "Welsh fans the experience they were looking forward to".

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