Review: Happy Jack by John Godber Company at The New Vic Theatre*

Last night we headed to The New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-Under-Lyme to watch John Godber Company’s Happy Jack. Happy Jack was Godber’s very first play which he wrote when he was just 25-years-old.  The play is based on the writer’s own grandparents who lived in a small mining village in Yorkshire. The play reminisces on their 40 years of marriage, the highs and lows of a working-class couple in the mining industry.

Their story was told in reverse, with Jack (John Godber) and his beloved wife Liz (Jane Thornton) in their sixties, how Liz died first shortly followed by Jack, who was buried with her. We go back over time, when Liz was unwell, her fears increased whilst Jack worked long hours underground.  The reality of battling the housework whilst her mind when into overdrive with little escape from her four walls.

Next, it moves on to the times they spent together in front of the fire singing or bickering whilst Jack hogged the fire. The arrival of their grandson, cleverly portrayed by Jane Thornton, and how Jack soaked up every minute of his grandson’s youth, making up for lost time with his own children. Their simple holidays where Jane lets lose each year through to the birth of their children, seamlessly moving through memories, to their wedding day, ending where Jack asked Liz out on their first date.

The play portrays the gentleness of their relationship whilst showing the hardships Jack went through to put a roof over his family’s head.  In the play you could see although he had a tough exterior his softer side shines though as a man who loves to write poems about his days which he reads aloud to his wife.  The story was told as if it were a book, with the actors reading chapters and page numbers whilst John Godber and Jane Thornton flitted between characters.

Written, directed and played by John Godber and his real-life wife Jane Thornton, there was something really special about watching them on stage.   I found Liz could very much have been your mother or grandmother and Jack you grandfather, father or even husband. They were real, their relationship raw and so relatable. How they spent their days together with little affection, yet so much love. How Liz called him Happy Jack as a term of endearment for his grumpy exterior. How they muddled along together, squabbling over trivial things. Their chemistry truly made us feel for these characters.

The theatre is in the round so the audience surrounded the simple set consisting of two chairs, with props around them setting the scene of their terraced home. They effortlessly switch between scenes moving the chairs or picking up items to transition through chapters. For such a simple set design with just two people they managed to draw the audience in.

I had such a lovely night watching Happy Jack which was in aid of The New Vic’s 60^th Anniversary and you could tell the audience did too, who at times sang along with the characters, laughed and at even participated which the actors welcomed. It was such an intimate setting for such an intimate play. It’s no surprised the John Godber and Jane Thornton are a double BAFTA and a multi award winning couple. If you have seen this play before or not, I recommend you visit The New Vic to watch the originals in all their glory. A truly lovely performance.

Cast

Jack – John Godber

Liz – Jane Thornton

How much do the tickets cost?

Tickets are on sale now, priced from £18.50 – £27.50.

How do I book tickets to watch Happy Jack?

Tickets are now on sale and available from the Box Office, by calling 01782 717962 or visit the New Vic Theatre’s website here.

When is the show on and what are the timings?

The show starts on Thursday, 21 April until Saturday, 30 April 2022 with evening shows at 7.30pm and matinee shows at 2.15pm on Thursday and Saturdays.

Where is The New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-Under-Lyme?
New Vic Theatre
Etruria Road
Newcastle-under-Lyme
Staffordshire
ST5 0JG

The theatre has a large car park, with a £1.50 charge after 6pm on show days. Only contactless card payment is currently accepted for parking charges.

The theatre café is open 10am to 3pm, Monday to Saturday – then from 5.30pm for pre-show meals.

Booking is required for pre-show meals 5.30pm onwards, via their booking system at this link.

About The New Vic Theatre

Founded in 1962, the New Vic is the producing theatre for Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire. With around eight major productions a year, its varied programme includes contemporary drama, new commissions, adaptations and classics. Recent productions have toured nationally and internationally, and have transferred to London and Manchester. The New Vic has developed extensive and award-winning community involvement. It works regionally, nationally and internationally through its education department and New Vic Borderlines, which aims to change the lives of the most disadvantaged members of the community. The New Vic is funded by Arts Council England, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, Staffordshire County Council and Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

About John Godber Company

The John Godber Company was established in 2011 with the purpose of allowing the playwright John Godber to continue expressing himself through the dramatic form. After having seen how the board of a theatre can destabilise a company John and his playwright/director/actor wife, Jane, decided to create their own company in order to keep control of their work.

As Artistic Director Godber had steered Hull Truck from bankruptcy in 1984 to the West End, an international reputation and finally a purpose built £15million theatre which he helped design and raise the money for, which opened in 2010. Shortly after the new theatre had opened the then Artistic Director, Gareth Tudor Price, was made redundant, and Godber, in a gesture of support to his long time friend and artistic colleague, left Hull Truck, after a relationship of twenty six years.

The John Godber Company, which has a base in East Yorkshire has a number of production outlet opportunities; often producing national tours out of Theatre Royal Wakefield, and partner-productions at Hull New Theatre and  East Riding Theatre amongst others.  The John Godber Company believes in putting the artist at the centre of the theatrical creative process.

Keeping you safe

They want you to have the best experience possible when you visit the New Vic. To help you enjoy your visit, they’ve put some measures in place to help all visitors feel as comfortable as possible.

• Please feel free to wear a face covering whilst at the New Vic, when walking around the venue and during the performance.
• They ask all guests to be mindful of fellow audience members when at the theatre, who may prefer to continue to keep a distance from other theatregoers whilst in their spaces.
• They have hand sanitiser stations positioned around the theatre, free to use by all. They are maintaining their high levels of cleanliness throughout the building, ensuring all spaces and contact surfaces are regularly sanitised.

Feeling unwell? If you, or a member of your party, are exhibiting symptoms of Covid19 prior to your visit, they politely ask that you do not attend the theatre. If this is the case, please speak to a member of their Box Office team who will be able to talk you through options to exchange your tickets.

Review by : Chloe O’ Malley

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* We were provided with press tickets in exchange for a review. All opinions are our own.

Photo Credit : New Vic Theatre / Robling Photography