The John Godber Company returns to Beverley in summer 2026 with John Godber’s new play This is the Life, premiering at East Riding Theatre from 27th June to 11th July.
This is the Life follows Dave and Sapphire, two backstage stalwarts at a once-bustling local venue called The Old Forge. They’ve spent years propping up other people’s performances, never dreaming of taking centre stage themselves. But as audiences dwindle and the threat of closure looms, the pair hatch a daring plan: to create their own show from the stories, characters and chaos they’ve witnessed behind the scenes. It’s a leap of faith that might just save the theatre…
Directed and written by John Godber, the production promises the trademark wit, warmth and observational humour that has made him one of the country’s most performed playwrights. At its heart, the play is a celebration of the magic of local theatre: the people who run it, the audiences who support it, and the communities who rally around it. Set inside a building that feels as familiar as any local arts venue, it captures the spirit of small theatres everywhere — places kept alive by passion, perseverance and the sheer joy of storytelling.
East Riding Theatre, a much-loved hub in Beverley with a thriving artistic community, offers the perfect backdrop for the premiere of a new Godber work. Known for championing original writing and work rooted in the region, ERT will host evening and matinee performances across the two-week run.
This is the Life runs from 27th June to 11th July 2026, with evening shows at 7:30pm and matinees at 2:30pm. Tickets are £25 and are now on sale from East Riding Theatre: www.eastridingtheatre.co.uk/this-is-the-life