'Bouncers', a comedy play written by John Godber - research into the play; John Godber's original intentions

John Godber's original intentions of his 1977 play comedy bouncers was to get across to some friends of his who did lots of sport and though that play and theatre were for wooses. So he wrote 'Bouncers' to get across that plays weren't just for wooses. One of the main elements of the play and how it should be performed is the portraying of playing so many completely different characters in such a short space of time and John Godber created this element so that the play was theatrical, quick and in a cartoon stereotypical stylised way. 

Characters:

The Bouncers

Young hothead, Les (Rosie/Kev/Wak)

Excitable, Judd (Cheryl/Elaine/Terry/Barber)

Leader-of-the-pack, Lucky Eric (Maureen/Female Swedish pornstar/Baz) - one of the few character that expresses how he really feels

Strong but silent, Ralph (Suzy/Jerry/Nobby the French postman(pornstar)/Wak/DJ)another character that expresses how he feels, capable of unleashing his sharp toungue or even a judo chop when the occasion calls for it.

The main focus is on the four bouncers and the dry conversations between them; snippets of wisdom hidden behind the courage and swagger, seeing everything through strict sobriety and simmering irritation at the club-goers they encounter.

But the actors also dart skilfully between various characters at fast speed to bubble up a colourful story of a whole night out at a northern nightclub, called Mr. Cinders. The scenes shift seamlessly from giggling girls dancing and fanning tears away from their faces after a cheating boyfriend is discovered in the nightclub corner, to drunken lads laughing at graffiti on toilet walls. With appearances of a smooth talking DJ, two scouse lads on a night out and other fun and enjoyable characters.

The play has its poignant moments too, when Lucky Eric breaks out to reflect on the times when bouncers are called upon to set moral limits in the face of female vulnerability.

Most of all though bouncers delivers lots of laughs. And maybe a little more sympathy for those who mann the doors of our younger years.