John Godber grew up in a mining family in Upton, the setting for his latest play. Its subject is the fallout of the miners’ strike of 1984-85. As the punning title suggests, it’s a partisan piece, firmly on the side of those who lost their livelihoods when the pits shut.
The (mis)fortunes of a post-mining community are registered through the experiences of one couple. Harry and Dot struggle to cope with unemployment, self-employment; failure, success; needs of relatives, old and young – and with the consequent demands on their relationship. Structured as a quickfire succession of crisp scenes spanning 30 years, the play demands a high level of craft from the actors. Godber himself performs, along with Jane Thornton (also a well-known writer). Both deliver. Characterisations (including subtle ageing), timing and interaction create maximum impact in minimum minutes (the fact that they are married in real life may or may not help). Godber’s writing usually tends to shape characters to polemic: they demonstrate their lives instead of inhabiting them. Here he offers glimpses of a new emotional freedom and power.
The venue itself is a rare thing – a new theatre, a community’s dream achieved through hard work, perseverance and good luck.
