by JOHN GODBER

Produced by MARION NEWLANDS

Performed in April 2000

On the day of his graduation from university, John recalls events from his Northern working class childhood.

We see his parents, Vic and Dot, find out the results of John's eleven-plus, John playing 'Doctors and Nurses' with the girl next door, and the family dealing with the bullying John receives at school...

And as John develops as a teenager, we see his awakening interests in girls and in drama, and the tensions these cause between himself and his family.

In Happy Families John Godber brings us the sorrows and joys of growing up in a working class household, and he does it with a great deal of warmth, humour and understanding.  Brian Bennett of the News Post Leader wrote of our production:

Where Mr Godber strikes success can be gauged by bringing laughter of a twofold nature from a packed audience.  The pundits are already laughing when they nip themselves again as they reminisce and laugh more, purely because the script is very true to life some thirty years ago... The authenticity of this production was really first class.

Stage Manager BILL ROGERS

Set Design RALPH MAUGHAN ▪ Lighting Design IAN WOODLEY

Sound DAVE HINDMARSH ▪ Prompt JULIA MALONE

House Manager JUNE WOODLEY

Properties and Set Dressing MARIAN ROBERTS and MARGARET BLACK

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