HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY BOUNCERS!

First performed on August 15th 1977 at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, John Godber’s landmark play Bouncers celebrates its 30th Birthday today.

Voted one of the greatest plays of the 20th Century by the National Theatre, Godber’s iconic nightclubbing comedy Bouncers was originally a no-frills production, performed using nothing more than a beer barrel and four handbags. Since its first performance at the Fringe – which starred Godber himself and played to a grand audience of two – the play has become an international cult classic; critically-acclaimed, studied, translated and performed the world over.

With its innovative theatrical style, this seminal piece made great impact in the evolution of contemporary theatre and, with great timeless and universal appeal, it continues to inspire and entertain audiences across the globe, with at least one production of Bouncers being performed somewhere in the world each week of the year.

And now, as the play celebrates this milestone in its history, John Godber is back directing his Men in Black once again; for Hull Truck Theatre’s 30th Anniversary production of the play, heading out on national tour this Autumn.

Rehearsals are in full swing at the theatre, with the all-new ‘Bouncers’ – actors Marc Bolton, Matthew Booth, Jack Brady and James Hornsby; all gearing up for the kick-off performance in Oxford on 5th September. It will be the first time Marc - who won great critical acclaim for his Hull Truck debut as Melvin in My Favourite Summer back in Spring - has performed in the play, and he is excited to be part of this historic production.

Bouncers will tour to twelve large-scale venues across the UK before returning to Hull Truck Theatre for the final leg, to perform a limited number of shows over two weeks. Tickets for all venues, including the Hull Truck ‘homecoming’, are in high demand, so early booking is advised.

Click here for full tour list
To book tickets for performances at Hull Truck Theatre: 19th Nov– 1st Dec 2007, call Box Office 01482 323638 or Book Online

Media Enquiries to Hull Truck Theatre Marketing Dept: Tel 01482 325 012 / Email: marketing@hulltruck.co.uk

Editor’s Notes

· Bouncers was voted one of the greatest plays of the 20th Century by the National Theatre. The play was also nominated for the UK Comedy of the Year in 1985 and is the winner of no less than seven Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards, and five Jefferson Awards in Chicago in 1987.

· Bouncers was first performed on 15th August 1977 at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, when John Godber, then 21 years old, made up half of the cast. Tickets cost an astronomical 50p and the play performed to a grand audience of two; John remembers; “The only people there were a drunk and a critic from the Scotsman. The drunk got up on stage and tried to join in and the critic left before the end.” John’s Uncle built the set for this ‘premiere’ production, which was then transported up to the Festival in the back of a car.

· The original inspiration for Bouncers was Kiko's in Pontefract - the only Polynesian Nightspot in Yorkshire with the bonus of fake palm trees around the dance floor.

· It has been translated into many languages, including Flemish, Swedish, French, German and Italian. Bouncers in French is "Les Videurs", in Dutch "Buitenwippers", in Serbo-Croat "Izbaciuaci”.

· Bouncers has been staged across the world, including in Belgium, France, New Zealand, Australia, Norway, South Africa, Italy, Spain, Russia, Canada, America, Ireland, Germany and Crete.

· “The most successful popular theatre piece of the decade.” The Guardian

· The 30th Anniversary production of Bouncers will star:

Marc Bolton (Ralph): Marc has appeared regularly on Emmerdale as Dean Morris, an associate of the King family, and made his Hull Truck debut back in Spring as Melvin in Nick Lane’s My Favourite Summer. This is the first time he has performed in Bouncers.

Matthew Booth (Les): Matthew has played Les in a previous Hull Truck production of Bouncers and is a firm favourite with the theatre’s audiences; so far this year performing in My Favourite Summer, Truck Tales and the PlayWrite Festival. His TV credits include regular roles in The Ward and Emmerdale, as postman Paul Marsden.

Jack Brady (Judd): Jack starred in Hull Truck’s world premiere production of John Godber’s Crown Prince back in May, and he has previously toured with the company, including as Judd in Bouncers. His screen credits include the BAFTA-nominated short film, The God Club.

James Hornsby (Eric): James has toured and worked extensively with Hull Truck, starring as Arthur in the 2005 national tour of Up ‘n’ Under, as Ron in the sellout tour of Perfect Pitch this Spring, and as Eric in Bouncers.