Martha Godber on bringing Do I Love You? south to the capital
Following the success of its UK tour earlier this year, Do I Love You? now comes to London for its inaugural performance in the capital. Packed with Northern Soul music, John Godber’s hilarious comedy is being performed by its original cast, including actor Martha Godber, whose parents founded the John Godber Company. We were excited to get the chance to talk with Martha about the show and finally bringing it down south.
Hi Martha. Thanks very much for taking the time to talk to us about Do I Love You? Can you tell us a bit about what the show is about?
My pleasure! Do I Love You? is a complete celebration of Northern Soul music and culture. It follows three young people in the North of England working in a chicken shop, looking for purpose – and that purpose is Northern soul. The play really takes you on a journey, one of belonging and finding yourself through a movement. If you know about Northern Soul you’ll love it and if you don’t it will certainly educate you!
John Godber is renowned for writing classic plays such as Bouncers and Teechers that are hugely popular and accessible to a socially diverse audience. Is this production in a similar vein?
I think naturally it’s in a similar vein because there are only three performers, as in both of those plays, and the other two actors multi-role amazingly! The John Godber Company has developed a signature style that we’re super proud of. It’s theatre that relies on the story and the performers: minimal props, no costume changes, just live storytelling and I think there’s something about that that’s really special.
The original cast from 2023 is reprised on this tour. Who will you be on stage with, and how does it feel to be still working together?
The cast has remained the same since the 2023 version and I think that is really precious. There’s only three of us in the show and we’re on the stage the full time so we have to trust each other. Chloe [McDonald] and Emilio [Encinoso-Gil] (the other actors) are amazing and it feels like such a privilege to share the stage with them, especially for this long – we’re like a family!
Northern Soul music and dancing is at the heart of the show. Does that make it quite taxing for you as a performer?
Absolutely! If you have ever seen Northern Soul dancing, you’ll know it’s very specific and quite taxing on the body, especially when you’re doing tricks like kicks, spins and backdrops. I think I’ve been to physio over ten times in the last year doing the show, so you definitely have to be careful as a performer – even more so as we’re doing it every day, sometimes twice a day! I’d say overall, the show is super high energy so you have to make sure you’re on it.
‘Northern Soul’ could never only be a nostalgic dance style in a John Godber play – what does the production tell us about life in the north of England today?
Of course, and even though the whole of the show is flooded with Northern Soul music and dancing, it deals with real social challenges. It’s set in Hull and I think it really highlights the lack of spaces young people have to feel like they can express themselves, particularly in northern cities where there is minimal opportunity. A lot of the culture now is of course online and engrained in social media, and I think young people will relate to the feeling of yearning for something more and trying to find meaning in everyday life.
The play follow three young people working in a chicken shop, unsure what to do with their lives. They then find Northern Soul and it allows them to live through their passion for the music and the dancing. As a cast, we have become completely obsessed with the culture and the music, so it really means a lot to us to be on stage telling this story to people where Northern Soul is a complete part of their identity and life.
A huge point Do I Love You? makes is the fact that not much has changed. In the 70s, when Wigan Casino was the place to be, people would save up all week working in labouring jobs to have the release of a banging Northern Soul night on the weekend, and this remains the same. It’s about the release and allowing your body to surrender to the music, it’s escapism, and I think that’s very relevant to society today.
The show has been on a tour around the UK and is heading south to Wilton’s Music Hall very soon. How have audience responses been across the different locations?
The reactions that we have got from Do I Love You? are incredible. You can tell when speaking to audience members after how much Northern Soul means to them, and it means the world to us having strong Northern Soul fans and the soul community behind us! Of course, Northerners love it because they are so familiar with John as a writer, but we’ve had some amazing reactions from Southern audiences, I think it’s a really translatable story that any age group/demographic can relate to and enjoy – you really leave the theatre on a high!
The John Godber Company celebrates its 15th anniversary this year, which also coincides with John Godber’s 70th birthday, so will you be planning some partying during the run?
I wish! Every time we go on stage it’s a party and I think the whole room, cast and audience really feels the buzz! It’s amazing the John Godber Company has been going for 15 years, I can’t really believe it and now it’s really special that myself and my sister are integral in the company alongside my Mum and Dad. We are planning a party for my Dad’s 70th later this year – and there will be a Northern Soul band!
Thanks very much to Martha for talking to us about what promises to be a brilliant night out!
Do I Love You? runs at Wilton’s Music Hall from Tuesday 3 March to Saturday 7 March.
