Last night we were invited to The New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-Under-Lyme to watch Richard Bean’s smash-hit play, One Man, Two Guvnors.
Set in 1963 in Brighton, the story is based on Carlo Gordon‘s 1746 play The Servant of Two Masters which draws upon the conventions of the commedia dell’arte (comedy of players’) which is the theatrical style of gibberish dialogue and ‘lazzi’ gags/stock jokes.
Directed by Condrad Nelson with songs by Grant Olding The play sees Francis Henshall (played by Michael Hugo) sacked from his band and out of work but soon finds himself with not one, but two employers, a posh small-town gangster and a man on the run.  Francis tries to juggle both his jobs but soon this overwhelms him but the money, need for food and his new love interest, is a huge motivation for him to carry on with both his employers. But will they find out about each other and will he succeed or crumble in the process?
What did I think of One Man, Two Guvnors?
Soon as we sat on our seats, it felt like we were transported to 1963 Brighton. The Theatre in The Round looked the part with Posters of Brighton, the familiar Brighton railings and with sea gulls suspended from the ceiling. The multi-talented cast doubled up as performers and serenaded with entertaining music as we waited for the play to start. And boy, did it start with a bang!
What can I say? Maybe start with how incredibly talented the cast were as they each got into character and kept the audience engaged at every moment. Even the scene change felt like a performance with the cast breaking into song and dance. There as never a dull moment. The production pays tribute to British comedy of the 60s hence it is stereotypical and ‘bravely’ anti-woke. Some might take offence to the ‘politically incorrect’ references in certain scenes, but I believe most of the audience, including myself, found it entertaining.
New Vic Theatre goers will recognise Michael Hugo from his previous performance as Nello in Marvellous. This time, he plays Francis to perfection. He was absolutely hilarious with great comic timing and kept the crowd roaring with laughter with his misfortunes.  Get ready to be part of the cast if you are sitting at the front, as there are lots of audience participation and banter in the show.
Jessical Dyas played Dolly to perfection embodying style, persona and a walk which kept the crowd mesmerised whenever she came on stage. Pauline Clench (played by Alyce Liburd) is such a lovable character, she oozes purity and her singing is impeccable. Declan Wilson was charming at Lloyd Boateng while I was immensely entertained by the naturally gifted Gareth Cooper playing posh Stanley Stubbers and Howard Chadwick was excellent as Charlie Clench.
The audience loved Thomas Cotran‘s portrayal of Alan Dangle which was delightfully entertaining. Daniel Miles was charismatic, and I enjoyed his lead performance in the band. Lucinda Freeburn plays Rachel Crabbe and her twin brother beautifully while Jonathan Markwood excels as Harry Dangle.
Nick Haverson as Alfie has to be my favourite character and he totally mesmerised the crowd. He has definitely mastered the Alexander Technique of letting go of his postures and effortlessly transforms himself into an almost 80-year old man, by hunching his back and bringing his jaw forward. His ability to fall backwards down the stairs and shaking his body vigorously left the audience amazed. He also had his work cut out for him as the Physical Comedy Consultant as the timing for each physical scene in the show was done to perfection.
The whole ensemble cast has an amazing electric between them thanks to Casting Director, Anji Carroll CDG and made the play a success. I found the first half of the play funnier than the second half, but it all came together in the end.
What a brilliant night with the wittiest writing, mayhem, great acting filled with fantastic songs by Grant Olding, performed by the actors. Prepare yourself for an entertaining night filled with non-stop laughter and physical comedy.
Cast
Gareth Cooper – Stanley Stubbers
Howard Chadwick – Charlie (The Duck) Clench
Thomas Cotran – Alan Dangle
Jessica Dyas – Dolly
Lucinda Freeburn – Rachel Crabbe
Nick Haverson – Alfie
Michael Hugo – Francis Henshall
Alyce Liburd – Pauline Clench
Jonathan Markwood – Harry Dangle
Daniel Miles – Gareth
Declan Wilson – Lloyd Boateng
Creative Team
Writer – Richard Bean
Composer & Lyricist – Grant Olding
Director Conrad Nelson
Designer Lis Evans
Musical Director Rebekah Hughes
Lighting Designer Daniella Beattie
Sound Designer Simon Deacon
Movement Director / Choreographer Beverley Norris-Edmunds
Physical Comedy Consultant Nick Haverson
Casting Associate Anji Carroll CDG
Assistant Director Mandeep GloverÂ
How much do the tickets to One Man, Two Guvnors cost?
Tickets are on sale now, priced from £10 to £31.50. Opening Night: Fri 12 April – All seats £10.00 (no concessions)
Concessions: £2.00 off
Group Discounts: £2.00 off for ten or more
Four Friends for £96 (valid on top two price bands for Mon-Fri performances; Max eight tickets per booking)
Under 16s Go Free
Under 26s Go Free
Tickets: £10.00 – £31.50
How do I book tickets to watch One Man, Two Guvnors?
Tickets are now on sale and available from the Box Office, by calling 01782 717962 or visit the New Vic Theatre’s website here.
How long is the show for and what are the timings?
One Man, Two Guvnors will be running until Saturday, 11 May 2024 with evening shows at 7.30pm and Matinee at 2.15pm (on 27 April, 2/4/9 & 11 May). No performances on 14, 17, 21, 22, 28, 29 April or 5 & 6 May.
Interpreted Performances:
Captioned: Tuesday 7 May 7.30pm
Relaxed Performance: Thursday 9 May 2.15pm
Audio Described: Saturday 11 May 2.15pm
Where is New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-Under-Lyme?
New Vic Theatre
Etruria Road
Newcastle-under-Lyme
Staffordshire
ST5 0JG
The theatre has a large car park, with a £2.20 charge 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.
Â
About Arts Council England
Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture.  By 2030 we want England to be a country in which the creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to flourish and where everyone of us has access to a remarkable range of high quality cultural experiences.  Between 2018 and 2022, we will invest £1.45 billion of public money from government and an estimated £860 million from the National Lottery to help deliver this vision.
Keeping you safe
To help you enjoy your visit, the New Vic has put measures in place to help all visitors feel as comfortable as possible:
- Please feel free to wear a face covering while 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 while 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 Covid-19 prior to your visit, they politely ask 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.
You may also want to read this:
Review: Ladies Down Under at New Vic Theatre
Review: Abigail’s Party at the New Vic Theatre
Review: Same Time, Next Year at the New Vic Theatre
* We were provided with press tickets in exchange for a review. All opinions are our own.
Photo Credit: New Vic Theatre/Andrew Billington
14 comments
That is so so cool…The play seems awesome. I miss going to theatres, I should do that for sure.
This sounds like a super fun play! I love comedy plays, and this style is something that I’ve not seen before.
This is interesting premise. I love the idea of a man becoming overwhelmed in the most hilarious way possible, and I always love good slapstick!
Okay you got me with “bravely anti-woke”! I love British comedy also. This sounds like a great play to see!
It’s great to hear how the cast, especially Michael Hugo as Francis, captivated the audience with their talent and comic timing.
This looks like such a fun show! A huge fan of commedia style and a 1960s Brighton update of a 1746 play seems like a great reframing.
This blog post provides a vivid glimpse into the experience of watching Richard Bean’s acclaimed play, “One Man, Two Guvnors,” at The New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-Under-Lyme. The author captures the essence of the storyline, set in 1963 Brighton, and highlights the play’s roots in Carlo Gordon’s work and the commedia dell’arte tradition. Through a concise summary of the plot and key elements such as direction by Conrad Nelson and music by Grant Olding, the post teases the audience with the tantalizing question of whether the protagonist, Francis Henshall, will successfully navigate his predicament of juggling two employers. Overall, it sparks curiosity and enthusiasm for experiencing the play firsthand.
This blog post offers valuable insight into Arts Council England’s mission and investment in fostering creativity and cultural experiences across England. By outlining their vision for 2030 and detailing their significant financial commitment, the post demonstrates the organization’s dedication to promoting the arts.
Your pictures of this show are breathtaking and I feel as if I am right there….almost! I so wish I was closer as I would so go to see this oen. Sounds and looks incredibly entertaining!
Sounds so interesting, and I love the pictures from the show. The cast looks so expressive! It would be fun to go to this show, I’ve never been to Vic theatre.
Love, mishaps, and mistraken identities. It looks like a non-stop laughter and heartwarming experience.
It sounds like it was a captivating and fun day out. The pictures really help paint a picture of how entertaining it would be! Thanks for sharing, I haven’t been to see a show in a while but this is giving me the urge too!
Kudos to the cast and crew of ‘One Man, Two Guvnors’ at New Vic Theatre for a stellar performance! I haven’t laughed that much in ages.
Glad to hear that you enjoyed the show