WOS TV: Up Close With … John Godber

As well as being Creative Director of Hull Truck Theatre, John
Godber is one of the UK’s most-performed playwrights with over 50
shows to his name. Perhaps best known for Bouncers, Godber won
the best comedy Olivier in 1984 for Up ‘n’ Under which
catapulted him to fame. 25 years later the play was revived in Hull
and now it is being performed at the Edinburgh Fringe with a cast
including Abi Titmuss.

A church hall in Paddington Green is the setting for our interview;
the first day of rehearsals are taking place. Godber is not
immediately warm, presumably due to the pressure of the impending
first preview. However he soon relaxes and is articulate and
intelligent as you would expect from a former academic. Although he
has seen much success, this has followed years of hard graft and some
tough experiences, especially at the Edinburgh Fringe.

John Godber wrote and directs Up ‘n’ Under which is running at Assembly @ George Street, 4-30 August at 17.25