Documentary that peeks behind the curtain of The Chocolate Men – a Black-owned business making waves as Britain’s first all-Black touring strip dancing group. Filmed during their 2018 nationwide tour, this revealing look at what brings audiences from all walks of life flocking to their performances sees the men behind the saucy strip shows explain what motivates them to bare all. The group’s managers, Louis and Dante, thought up the idea after hosting a Magic Mike-themed night and noticed that the event’s only Black dancer received a big reaction from the crowd. Against those who would say their events sell a sexualised stereotype of Black masculinity, Dante holds firm and explains that ‘there’s a demand and we’re servicing that demand.’ Anthony, aka Black Magic, is one of the group’s longest-serving dancers. ‘Some people would look down their nose at the job that I’m doing, but they’re not walking in my shoes’ he explains. Anthony met his girlfriend Phillipa at one of his shows. But with a baby on the way and stripping as his only income, Anthony’s feeling the pressure on his finances and it’s beginning to affect his performance at work. Gino, a typical student by day living at home with his mum and sister, works as a stripper to pay off his university costs. His mum has asked if she’d be allowed to come to a show, but Gino’s adamant that she doesn’t need to see him ‘fully naked, dry-humping multiple women.’ He’s happy dancing for now but has dreams of settling down with a more typical day job. And 35-year-old Django is new to stripping. But his very first performance pushes the entertainment over the line, causing friction with the other dancers and frustration for bosses Louis and Dante. Could his dancing days be over as quickly as they started?
The Black Full Monty – Thursday 10pm on Channel 4
