Alan Williams' Mean Streaks described as 'kitchen-sink filth' by Scunthorpe Star. Paper's headline 'Just how low can you get?' causes questions to be asked at Scunthorpe Council meeting. In same year, The Cockroach Trilogy by Alan Williams crosses Atlantic to the Toronto Festival and is a huge coast-to-coast success.

1981

BBC screens The Day War Broke Out by Peter Tinniswood, a joint production with Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. During it's 10th anniversary, Hull truck embarks on joint production with Bush Theatre of improvised play appropriately entitled Still Crazy After All These Years.

1982

Mike Bradwell leaves to pursue career as freelance director. Succeeded by Pam Brighton, who's directed for Hampstead Theatre Club, 7:84, Liverpool Everyman, Royal Court. Hull Truck's appearance at British Festival of Theatre in New York with the controversial Diary Of A Hunger Strike by Peter Sheridan is vetoed because Nancy Reagan is on organising committee, Irish film critic Cormac Liddy offended by almost 'constant nudity' of actors in play. 'They should wear Y-fronts'.

1983

Company gains a theatre in Hull, a long-held ambition. Opening season of the 200-seat Hull Truck Spring Street Theatre is launched on 4 April by premiere of The Adventures Of Jasper Ridley by Nigel Williams, featuring 23 Humberside school children, and a celebrity late night concert appearance by Tom Robinson. Pam Brighton resigns. Drama teacher and award-winning playwright John Godber appointed as Artistic Director.

1984

John Godber arrives in Hull and departs again for tour of his latest play September In The Rain, which he also directs and performs in. Hull Truck has 30,000 customers through Spring Street's doors in first year. All seats at theatre come out for promenade production of Cramp. Company releases development plans to take it into the Nineties. Include expansion of residential and regional touring work. Up 'n' Under wins Edinburgh Fringe First and Laurence Olivier Comedy of the Year Award, the latter after only six performances on the West End. A decidedly gob-smacked Godber collects award and is so busy ringing up his mum to tell her the news that he misses the photocall after the ceremony. Hull Truck enters music business with release of single 'The Bouncers Rap' from Bouncers and an appearance on The Tube!

1985

Spring Street Theatre firmly establishing itself as one of the country's leading and most exciting theatres with audiences up by a third in 2nd year to 40,000. Theatre comes to the people with its first community theatre tour of Humberside with Happy Jack. Up 'n' Under opens on London's West End on 26 March. John Godber goes on 'Wogan' and doesn't feel Terry's knee. Gala opening at Spring Street of the Up 'n' Under sequel Up n' Under I took place. Four-woman play Shakers breaks box office records on its national tour. For 2nd year in succession, Hull Truck is nominated for Laurence Olivier Comedy of the Year Award, this time with Bouncers.

1986

1986 marks the 15th Anniversary Season. Hull Truck breaks theatrical ground again by bringing judo to the stage in Blood, Sweat and Tears, inspired by world judo champion Karen Briggs. BBC2 screen a TV version of play with original cast in Screenplay series. Tour extended to mid-December, making it Hull Truck's longest ever and its most successful. LWT's The South Bank Show devotes whole programme to telling the Hull Truck Story. Hull Truck joins forces with Armand Gerrard Management to mount a large-scale national tour of Bouncers, culminating in an indefinite run at Arts Theatre, London. Meanwhile latest production of Bouncers sells out in Edinburgh, Sheffield and Hull. And over in the states, Dynasty's Steven Colby alias actor Jack Coleman stars in the Los Angeles production of Bouncers. Hull Truck collaborates with Tom Robinson and Hereward K on musical production of Cramp. Premieres At Edinburgh Festival with runs in London and Spring Street. Cast of Cramp feature in Tom Robinson video Still Loving You/Feel So Good. Tom puts Saturday Night at the Disco from Cramp on B-side of Still Loving You single. Over 22,000 people see Blood, Sweat and Tears, Cramp and Bouncers at Edinburgh Festival making it Hull Truck's most successful Fringe ever. Danny Hiller directs new Hull Truck play Cut and Dried by Jane Thornton, co-writer of Shakers. Sponsor sought for 50-seat studio theatre, which opened at Spring Street in November. Hull Truck presents two shows at Spring Street over Christmas. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and Shakers.

1987

Cut And Dried to tour Britain for five months. Hull Truck commissions new play from Phil Woods, the author of Buddy Holly At The Regal and Last Of The Mohicans. Set against backdrop of Hull's docks. The Dock premieres at Spring Street, John Godber to direct, following his stint at BBC Pebble Mill directing his TV series Putting On The Ritz. New play by John Godber premieres at Edinburgh Festival and to tour Britain. Company awarded £2,000 sponsorship money from Mansfield Breweries. The government's Business Sponsorship Incentive Scheme doubles this amount. A number of film and play projects for television being explored. Bouncers runs into its second year in London. Plans approved for Hull Truck's new 400-seat theatre in the centre of Hull.

1988

Hull Truck marks another anniversary, the 25th anniversary of The Beatles concert at Hull's Regal Cinema, with A Hard Days Night. Other Hull Truck productions in 1988 were the return of the award winning Up 'n' Under and A Midsummer Night's Dream, both at Spring Street; a co-production with Wakefield Metropolitan District Council of Salt Of The Earth by John Godber which was especially commissioned for the Wakefield 100 Centenary Celebrations; a national touring production of Viva Espana, a new play by John Burrows; a joint production with Oldham Coliseum of September In The Rain; a new production of Bouncers and a children's play by Brian Patten, Gargling With Jelly, adapted from his best-selling book. Five Hull Truck shows visited the Edinburgh Festival; September In The Rain, Salt Of The Earth, Viva Espana, Bouncers and A Hard Days Night.

1989