Who was John Godber influenced by
James Bradley
Updated on April 07, 2026
Godber was not only inspired by the working class people, gender stereotypes, conservative government, unemployment rates and his life at school, but also by an English actor, author, playwright and theatre director called Steven Berkoff.
Why did Godber write teechers?
We needed to focus on a popular shared experience to attract people to come to the theatre and school life was obviously something that everyone had in common. Hull Truck was very poorly funded back then, so much so, that I agreed to write TEECHERS for £100.
What style of theatre is John Godber?
John Godber was born in West Yorkshire and trained as a Drama teacher before starting his career in theatre. Godber’s earlier physical work uses ‘Theatricality’. This is shown in a number of his plays studied in schools today. Godber’s work embraces the expressionist style, particularly the German school.
What did Godber believe about theatre?
Godber believes in theatre for the masses and so explores universal themes in his plays. He believes in the theatre as an instrument of social change for the better. Using comedy to engage the audience but also to make them think.Why did Godber write shakers?
The first priority was to write it for the theater in Hull, for that particular audience. The people that John’s trying to reach are a working-class audience that don’t normally go to the theater. So you can’t expect them to sit and look at one scene for a long time; they’d be bored.
Who wrote teechers?
Teechers is a play by John Godber, written in 1984 and was published in 1985. It was first performed by the Hull Truck Theatre Company at the 1987 Edinburgh Festival starring Martin Barass as Salty, Gill Tompkins as Gail and Shirley Anne Selby as Hobby.
What is teechers message?
Mr Nixon believes that all children should be treated equally, and he gradually motivates his classes and ignites the children’s and especially the three girl’s passion for drama where they can escape into the stories and become different people.
When did John Godber get his OBE?
hide Authority controlOtherSUDOC (France) 1What is John Godber known for?
John Godber was born in West Yorkshire in 1956. He is known mainly for his work in theatre but has also directed and written a number of plays for television. He is now one of the most performed writers in the English language.
What has Godber written?However, Godber is perhaps better known as a playwright and his credits include Bouncers, On the Piste, Shakers Re-stirred, Bouncers – 1990s Remix, The Office Party, Passion Killers, Reunion, Our House, Funny Turns, The Debt Collectors and Losing the Plot.
Article first time published onWho wrote shakers?
The play was a piece by John Godber called “Shakers”, set in a trendy cocktail bar in the North of England during Maggie Thatcher’s yuppie 80’s.
Who is Godber family?
acting clan: John Godber with his wife Jane and their daughters Elizabeth, 21, (left) and Martha, 18, at East Riding Theatre. He is Britain’s third most performed playwright (after Shakespeare and Alan Ayckbourn) and with his wife they are arguably the nation’s leading acting-writing-directing married couple.
Who is Mel in shakers?
Mel, played by Amanda Blockley, is the hard-nosed one, the nuclear option to get rid of people trying to come in when Shakers is closed. She is engaged to be married but has a secret which perhaps explains her problem with Adele and her child.
When was shakers originally performed?
Hull Truck’s John Godber and Jane Thornton first staged Shakers in 1986, after Thornton was prompted by Godber’s all-male Bouncers to co-write a ‘sister’ play, with an all-female cast playing multiple characters of both sexes.
What is the purpose of the play shakers?
The play is presented by four waitresses, each under pressure in different ways, and describes a typical night at a bar called Shakers. The play is set in 1985, which is the year it was written, and specifically deals with issues of the time, most notably high unemployment.
What is Gail like in teechers?
Gail Saunders – Loud mouthed and bossy, attractive and full of enthusiasm.
What is the plot of the play teechers?
Teechers is a play within a play. Three year 11 students put on a performance for their teachers. School leavers, Salty, Hobby and Gail Saunders perform an account of their time in High School (given the name ‘Whitewall’ for their performance). They were particularly inspired by their time with Mr.
Who directed teechers?
Teechers is directed by Harry Blumenau, with Charlotte Bateup as Assistant Director.
What are teachers called?
Teacher” or “Teacher” (literally translated) in schools. In places other than schools and universities, students also can call their teacher by saying “Mr. X”, and in universities they call their professor by saying “Dr.” and “Master”.
Where has bouncers been performed?
Bouncers is 26 years old and has recently been performed in London at the Whitehall Theatre with John Godber in the role of Judd. It has run previously on the West End for almost two years.
Are shakers comedy?
The Nomads present a dramatic comedy piece, Shakers, in the studio. Set in a cocktail bar c.
Who is Adele in shakers?
🎥 In the second of our series of cast interviews, we take a look at SHAKERS by John Godber and Jane Thornton. Today we hear from Hannah Galliers, who plays waitress Adele, as well as number of clientele who frequent the trendy cocktail bar.
What are the themes in shakers?
Shakers is an all-female play, set in a trendy wine bar somewhere in the North of England. Through comedy, the play deals with modern culture and tackles issues of sexism, female expectations, prejudice, motherhood and job satisfaction.
Where is shakers re stirred?
In theatrically heightened moments, the women play the roles of men and women alike, covering not only their nights at Shakers but also the lives of four other working women in London. Always at the source of their satire are the men who take them for granted or, worse, abuse them.