Review: BOUNCERS, New Vic Theatre - Tour

It’s the 1980’s and we’re in a nightclub, Mr Cinders. Ralph, Judd, Les and Lucky Eric relive the nightlife of a Yorkshire disco. It’s one of those nights when all the gang are out on the town, the blokes, the birds, the cheesy DJ with his wet t-shirt competitions and the taxi ride home.

It’s all played out under the watchful eyes of the bouncers. They see everything!

Written by John Godber (the first version in 1977 was a two hander), it’s an interesting reality check and feels more relevant now than it probably was in the past. 

Would the behaviour of anyone in nightclubs 40 years ago be acceptable today? 

Is the degradation of women who’ve had a bit too much to drink really something that we should have ever turned a blind eye to?

How much have our attitudes really changed though, if we thought we would get away with saying something humiliating about another person, just for a laugh, would we still do it?

Frazer Hammill (Lucky Eric), Lamin Touray (Judd), Tom Whittaker (Ralph) and George Reid (Les) work extremely well together, jumping between characters so quickly and convincingly that you almost forget there is only four of them. Commitment to the storytelling and each individual story is flawless by all throughout.

Directed by Jane Thornton, there is never a dull moment on stage, whether we are laughing at the reality of a situation we have been in ourselves, or the random dance moves, or the poignant moments of Lucky Eric’s speeches, the time just flies by. It’s a constant absorption of entertainment.

Plain-spoken, accurate and riotously funny!

**** Four stars

Reviewed by: Rachel Louise Martin

Bouncers plays at the New Vic Theatre, Staffordshire until 1 April and at Hull Truck Theatre from 25 – 29 April. For more information, please click here.