Scary Bikers, starring the BAFTA Award-winning duo of John Godber and Jane Thornton, makes its London debut in April 2019 at the famous Trafalgar Studios on Whitehall.
Produced by The John Godber Company and Theatre Royal Wakefield, and written and directed by Godber, Scary Bikers is a new comedy that was commissioned by Sky Arts in 2018 as part of their ART 50 project which explored the idea of what it is to be British in a post-Brexit world.
Scary Bikers is at Trafalgar Studios 2nd – 27th April 2019.
You’re appearing in Scary Bikers at Trafalgar Studios, what can you tell us about it?
It’s the story of two people who find themselves on opposite sides of the EU referendum vote just as they are about to embark on a tandem ride together through Europe. Both characters; Don and Carol have lost their respective partners, so it’s also about loneliness and moving on. As well as being touching it’s also very funny as the two of them come to terms with not just their opposing political views but aching legs, getting lost in Belgium and peddling their tandem on the wrong of side of the road!
Why did you want to be involved in this production?
It was a chance to go back on stage with my husband John Godber – we’ve done quite a lot of two handers together over the years – and this seemed particularly challenging as we had to get fit to be able to cycle on stage whilst speaking the dialogue! Having said that over the years I’ve had to ski, play rugby and learn judo to be in his plays, so he keeps me on my toes!
How would you describe your character?
Carol is still recovering over the loss of her husband, but she’s recently opened a cycling cafe in his memory and is strong, determined and certainly not a pushover. She’s also witty and her and Don, an ex -miner are well matched when it comes to an argument. I also play Don’s first wife Jean who is totally hilarious, calls a spade a spade and takes no prisoners.
It was originally commissioned by Sky Arts, what kind of opportunities did that give the production?
It helped us mount the production to do a National Tour in 2018 and enabled us to be part of their up and coming Art50 documentary. Being part of this challenged us to really think about what it means to British in the wake of Brexit why people voted in the way they did and what it will mean or our children and future generations.
What makes Brexit and a love story work together so well?
Well both are story of a journey. For Don and Carol despite being on opposing political sides the journey brings them closer together and they come to better understand and respect each other. Obviously as the journey is made on a tandem the success depends on working as team, I think there’s a metaphor for Brexit in there somewhere!
What would you say to anyone thinking of coming to see Scary Bikers?
That there’s something in to for everyone. It’s clever, truthful, funny and very current. Everyone loved it on tour last year, from Wakefield to Winchester so I can confidently say it’s a good night out as well as being thought provoking.
