HULL SCHOOL PUPILS ARE THE NEXT BEST THING AT EDINBURGH!

”John Godber continues to do what he does best. ***” The Scotsman



Top drama students from schools across Hull were celebrating their onstage success last week, following a ten-day stint performing John Godber’s brand new play at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

After being approached by Kingswood High School to write a piece for Hull’s top young drama students earlier this year, John Godber penned the brand-new play Next Best Thing; an exploration of society’s obsession with chasing fame for fame’s sake, and the pressures exerted upon youngsters to compete for and pursue dreams.

Funded jointly by Hull City Council, Hull Truck Theatre and the Arts Council, the project united a cast of twenty-four gifted and talented drama pupils nominated to take part from twelve schools across Hull. The bright young stars spent three weeks in intensive rehearsals under the direction of Hull Truck’s Associate Artistic Director, Nick Lane, and performing alongside top professional actor, Martin Barrass, ready to make their debut at the Fringe Festival’s prestigious 130 seater C Venue in Edinburgh.

The triumphant Edinburgh debut of this latest play by John Godber comes 30 years on from the world premiere of his award-winning international classic Bouncers; first performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival on 15th August 1977. Back then, the seminal work – which has since become one of the defining plays of the 20th century – debuted in front of a grand audience of just two people – one of whom left half way through!

Despite its disappointing debut, John Godber’s Bouncers has become one of the world’s most celebrated and performed works, and - with the critics already won over by the premiere production of his latest play, the gifted and talented pupils involved in the project are already well on their way to becoming the Next Best Thing.

Media Enquiries to Hull Truck Theatre Marketing Dept: Tel 01482 325 012 / Email: marketing@hulltruck.co.uk