Contact: Lisa Foster

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John was born the son of a miner in Upton, West Yorkshire. He trained as a teacher in drama at Breton Hall College. Whilst he was Head of Drama at Minsthorpe High School, the school he attended as a student, he won every major award at the National Student Drama Festival between 1981 and 1983.

John has an MA from Leeds University, an Hon DLitt from Hull University, an Hon DLitt from Lincoln University and a DUni from the Open University. He is a Professor of Contemporary Theatre at Liverpool Hope University and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

John's plays are performed across the world and he has the distinction of being one of the most performed writers in the English language. He has won numerous awards for his plays including a Laurence Olivier Award and seven Los Angeles Critics' Circle Awards. His plays include BOUNCERS, UP 'N' UNDER, APRIL IN PARIS, TEECHERS, BLOOD SWEAT AND TEARS, HAPPY JACK, SEPTEMBER IN THE RAIN, SALT OF THE EARTH, PASSION KILLERS, HAPPY FAMILIES, GYM & TONIC, LUCKY SODS, UNLEASHED, THICK AS A BRICK, MEN OF THE WORLD, PERFECT PITCH and FUNNY TURNS. John also co-wrote the highly successful SHAKERS with Jane Thornton.

John is also co-writer of the BAFTA-award-winning ODDSQUAD and wrote both THUNDER ROAD and MY KINGDOM FOR A HORSE (BBC).  His first feature film, UP 'N' UNDER, adapted from his own play was released in 1998.

John has also written extensively for radio, including two series of SPREAD A LITTLE HAPPINESS, which he co-wrote with Jane Thornton for Watershed Productions, GOING EAST, also co-written with Jane Thornton and FIRST BORN, both for the BBC.

John has recently established The John Godber Company working with Theatre Royal, Wakefield, which will present his plays. John's first play for The John Godber Company, THE DEBT COLLECTORS has just completed a UK Tour, while WEEKEND BREAKS is currently touring. He is also working on a new play for David Pugh Ltd.

Further information can be found at www.johngodber.co.uk

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