About The 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. Jane and John are double BAFTA winners and joint directors of the John Godber Company.
As Artistic Director Godber had steered Hull Truck from bankruptcy in 1984 to the West End, an international reputation and finally a purpose built £15 million theatre which he helped design and raise the money for, which opened in 2010.
Photo credit: Sophie Teasdale.
The John Godber Company has a base in East Yorkshire and works with Theatre Royal Wakefield, 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. The family also run the John Godber Foundation which supports young artists and their progression across the East Ridings.
Jane was recently awarded a doctorate from The University of Hull for services to theatre in the city. She works as a playwright, director and actor and is also a director of The Godber Theatre Foundation. She is passionate about supporting young people, particularly from deprived backgrounds, in order for them to reach their potential and to be able to access Drama and Theatre Arts training at the highest level.
Previous excellent plays in a catalogue of over 40 works (still growing) are both the much loved and the newer – include of course Teechers, Shakers, Up’n’Under and Bouncers, and an adaptation of Moby Dick, Sunny Side Up, Happy Jack and Scary Bikers. Jane’s credits include an adaptation of Wuthering Heights and I Want That Hair. The Godbers have also had work on television and radio.
The Godbers have supported ND in person and behind the scenes. The new Teechers Leavers ‘22 is passionate in its roar of support for Drama in all state schools, regardless of postcode, on the curriculum, available to every child taught by a specialist.
Why Drama Matters
We believe the Drama boosts our imagination, helps us understand the world, teaches us empathy, and illuminates our lives.
As Albert Einstein said “Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions. Imagination is more important than knowledge, knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”
Why Jane and John Godber are Patrons
We believe it is important that people working in Arts in Education and professional artistic practitioners endeavour to work together to stop not just Drama, but all Arts being marginalised in schools. The benefits of Drama and theatre practice to young people needs to be recognised and promoted.
We’ll continue to champion National Drama and its work at every opportunity and across our social media platforms. We are happy to work with teachers to deliver master classes for students studying our work and in this respect Jane would be happy to travel to schools for some petrol money and a school dinner! We are happy to do a Q and A in person or on Zoom and to support fundraising for bursaries. Whatever you need!