The New Vic hosts the latest leg in the 2025 tour of John Godber Company’s ‘Do I Love You’.
Charting the lives of three Hull based twenty-somethings Sally, Nat and Kyle who are struggling with their post-COVID humdrum lives in every aspect. Sally is her grandmother’s carer, Nat and Kyle both have degrees, but all three lacking a job, finally finding work in a fast food restaurant to make ends meet.
Things start to change when they attend a Northern Soul ‘all-nighter’ (partly because it was cheap) but soon discover the vibrant music, related dance moves and strong community spirit might just be some of what is lacking in their lives.
Godber’s signature style is more than apparent, the script is sharp, funny, and rich with Northern wit and sometimes melancholy. The jokes always land, but there’s always a message underneath.
The staging is minimalistic and relies heavily on the actors to set the scene and breaking the fourth wall as with other Godber productions.
Martha Godber plays Sally, Emilio Encinoso-Gil is Kyle and Chloe Mcdonald, Nat. All three were excellent, with controlled dance movements and high energy, choreographed by World Northern Soul champion, Sally Molloy. Their dialogue was crisp and sharp, transitioning between scenes, characters and emotions with ease as well delivering the killer lines with great timing.
There are plenty of local references, despite being set in Hull, with Kings’ Hall, The Torch and Stoke mentioned multiple times, such is our area’s importance with the history of the movement. There was also a poignancy with Keith’s monologue about the pits, pots and steelworks, which hit close to home on a number of levels.
The production has heart, with the trio’s rediscovery of joy, freedom, and maybe a shared purpose through their love of Northern Soul music, with songs from the age weaving through a story and delivered expertly.
The production is on until 24th May with tickets available from the box office or online here: https://www.newvictheatre.org.uk/productions/do-i-love-you-2/
