Godber & Hull Truck Bouncers Move in at WhitehallDate: 11 January 2001
Hull Truck's 21st anniversary production of John Godber's Bouncers, starring the author himself, transfers to the West End next month. It opens at the Whitehall Theatre on 2 February 2001 (previews from 20 January) for a limited eight-week season.
The comedy about nightclub bouncers was inspired by a club called Kiko's in Pontefract and years of unsuccessful disco-going in Godber's youth. Bouncers had its first performance at the Edinburgh Festival in 1977 before mounting productions in London and touring all over Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the USA. In 1999, it was voted as one of top 100 plays of the 20th century in a survey conducted by the National Theatre.
Four actors invoke a cast of 40 as the weekend comes alive. The smooth-talking DJ, the lager-swilling lads looking to pull, and the lipstick-lacquered girls dancing round their handbags. Outside in the freezing cold skulk the ever-watchful Lucky Eric, Judd, Les and Ralph.
Bouncers was the play that made John Godber's name. Since its debut, he has become one of the country's most performed playwrights. His other plays include Teechers, Office Party, April in Paris, Perfect Pitch, Unleashed and Up 'n' Under, which was recently made into a film.
Since 1984, Godber has been the artistic director of the Hull Truck Theatre, which he often uses as a launchpad for his new works. At the 1998, the playwright created a stir at the Edinburgh Festival when he denounced the state of theatre in Britain, saying that eight out of ten productions mounted were tedious. He said he preferred to stay at home with a video.
Joining Godber in the cast of Bouncers are Andrew Dunn, Andrew Dennis and Zach Lee. The play is produced in the West End by the Ambassadors Theatre Group.
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