Emilio Encinoso-Gil, Martha Godber, centre, and Chloe McDonald on the dancefloor in John Godber’s Do I Love You?
THE John Godber Company is on its third tour of Do I Love You?, John Godber’s hymn to keeping the faith in Northern Soul. Next stop, York Theatre Royal, from June 10 to 14.
In the cast, as they have been since the start, are Martha Godber (John’s daughter), Chloe McDonald and Emilio Encinoso-Gil, a part-Spanish actor, born in Hull, who is an inaugural member of the Godber Theatre Foundation.
Inspired by Godber’s devotion to Northern Soul, Do I Love You? follows three twentysomethings, slumped in the drudgery of fried chicken drive-through counter jobs – Martha’s Sally, Chloe’s Natalie and Emilio’s Kyle – as they develop a love for the uplifting escape of the soulful music of Frank Wilson and co.
What began as a college project grows into a passion, but the dance steps are exhausting. Far beyond their home city of Hull, they find excitement, purpose and their tribe as they head to weekenders all over, from Bridlington Spa to the Tower Ballroom, Chesterfield to Stoke.
“This is Northern Soul for a new generation, but with rising costs, unemployment and small-town blues, has anything really changed?” asks Godber’s pulsating play. “Is this England 1975 or 2025? The pubs are closing, hospitality has gone, and strikes are everywhere; but when you’re out on the floor…”
Out on that floor in York next week, spreading the talc and grabbing his loafers, will be Emilio Encinoso-Gil, who last appeared at the Theatre Royal in the lead role of highwayman John Swift in Godber’s premiere of The Highwayman in the Studio last November.
Do I Love You? playwright and Northern Soul devotee John Godber
“Whether you’re there for John’s comedy, the dancing or the music, it’s really relatable,” says Emilio. “It’s not only brought people in for different reasons, but they come back too.
“You’ve got this coalition of Godber fans, Northern Soul fans and theatre fans in the audience, and it’s also a show where you’re going to get people coming who don’t normally come to theatre, which is cool, as we all want people to do that, and they give you an honest response, that instinctual reaction, which gives the play an authentic sign-off.”
Such authenticity is vital to Godber’s play. “So many people went to the Wigan Casino; it was like the Mecca of Northern Soul,” says Emilio. “It could be intimidating for us, as it’s like a pride thing: when you’re faced by those who go to the all-nighters, you want to get it right for them.
“But they’re not sitting there thinking ‘this is going to be terrible; go on, get it wrong’. It’s more like, ‘right, go on, prove it’. They’re supportive.
“I remember getting goosebumps in Barnsely when Kyle does his speech about what Northern Soul means and afterwards this guy said ‘Spot on’! That made me feel so good.”
Emilio describes Do I Love You? as a “love letter to Northern Soul”. “You can see that in the writing, where you know it will be witty and have social comments to make, but John also feels a responsibility to get it right – and the reactions we’ve had show that he’s hit the nail on the head,” he says.
In the spotlight: Emilio Encinoso-Gil’s Kyle shows off his moves in John Godber’s Do I Love You?
He is delighted that writer-director Godber has retained the same cast. “We were thinking about this the other day, how we’re very lucky and grateful to be able to do it again, as it’s a show we care about so much, and with each show, that only grows,” says Emilio.
“I knew Martha and Martha knew Chloe before we started doing this play, and we’ve grown as friends over the three tours. We’ve all lived lives over that time [since September 2023], like Chloe has had a baby girl. She was pregnant during one tour – and you can already tell her baby is going to be a soul dancer!”
Emilio continues: “We trust each other as performers and I think our characters have got deeper. John said that you will get to the end of a run and think ‘ah, I think I got it’ but you will wish you could do it one more time.
“What’s lucky for us is that we do come back to do it again, but it’s also nice to have the gaps in between and then come back with fresh ideas.
“When we first did it in 2023, we didn’t know how it would go down, whereas now it feels surreal! Last year there were some minor tweaks because John knew he’d hit the nail on the head but wanted to make sure the screws were as tight as possible too! That version has stayed in place for this year’s tour. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
John Godber Company in Do I Love You?, York Theatre Royal, June 10 to 14, 7.30pm plus 2pm Thursday and 2.30pm Saturday matinees. Post-show discussion on June 13. Age guidance: 14 plus. Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.