John & Jane Godber Bring Paris Back to Hull Truck

Husband and wife playwrights John and Jane Godber will appear on stage together for the first time in 17 years when they star in Hull Truck’s revival of April in Paris, which kicks off the company’s newly announced spring/summer season next month (9 to 27 March 2010, previews from 4 March).

April in Paris, which was written by John Godber and first performed by John and Jane in 1992 (their last appearance on stage together), was nominated for an Olivier Award for Comedy of the Year when it transferred to the West End – starring Gary Olsen and Maria Friedman – in 1994.

The play follows Al and Bet as they leave their house in Hull behind and travel to Paris, courtesy of Bella magazine. While there, they see the sights and sample new food and art – but learn as much about each other and their marriage as they do about France.

John Godber, who also directs the revival, said: “We thought long and hard about it – but given that we are in the new theatre, and it is such a great play – we thought we should have a go. Jane and I saw the play performed in Swanland Village Hall last year and that prompted us to do it ourselves … although it was written nearly 20 years ago, it sounds like it could have been written last week.”

Godber, who has led Hull Truck since 1984, will also direct a “spectacular adaptation” of the classic novel 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea later in the season, which is the third to be performed at the company’s £14million new home on Ferensway (See News, 19 Aug 2008).