York Theatre Royal – until Saturday 14th June 2025
Reviewed by Michelle Richardson
4****
After a successful 2023 Yorkshire tour, John Godber’s “Do I Love You?”, is currently touring a bit more of the UK. This week it is back in Yorkshire playing at York Theatre Royal. Set to the rhythm of Northern Soul, a music and dance movement that emerged in the north of England and the Midlands in the early 1970’s. It developed from the British Mod scene, based on soul music with a heavy beat and fast tempo.
Post-covid, three twenty something year olds from Hull, are struggling to find their way in life, and failing abysmally. Sally (Martha Godber) gained the most A levels but didn’t graduate, and now looks after her gran, childhood and best friend Kyle (Emilio Encinoso-Gil) has a degree but doesn’t know what to do with it, and finally Nat (Chloe McDonald), completing the trio of friends, who they met at college, is being pressurised by her mother to work in the NHS. They are all disillusioned with the grim realities of life, battling unemployment, living costs and lacking purpose, no job, no money, no life. Finally, Kyle gets a job working at a fast-food kiosk, and the other two follow suit.
Sally’s gran, played by McDonald with a scarf around her head and a cigarette between her fingers, is full of Irish spirit. After Sally comes across some old vinyl in her gran’s attic, a gift from Marvin, who we come to believe she had an illicit affair with, she is enthralled with stories about the world of Northern Soul and it becomes her obsession.
All three friends, after a bit of a hiccup, fall in love with the music and dance. They learn the energetic dance moves, kicks, stomps, twist and spins, travelling all over in search of venues. Blackpool is their ultimate aim, as long as they get the spirit of the dance, and it becomes part of their soul.
Through their performances, the cast captures the essence of Northern Soul with their palpable energy. They are all on stage for whole performance and their chemistry is evident for all to see. Throughout they are wearing “Keep The Faith” branded polo shirts, a phrase associated with the movement, signifying the dedications and spirit of the subculture. The scenes throughout are intertwined with snippets of classic tracks and spirited footwork, thanks to choreography by Sally Molloy (World Northern Soul Dance champion 2022).
The set is very simple, the lighting moodful. At times I found the dialogue a bit clunky and repetitive. The cast, music and dancing are the stars of the show. I would have loved to have heard more and seen more. I enjoyed watching the freedom, the energy and the abandonment of everything, whilst they slid across the floor, lost in a moment.
Do I Love You? though packed with humour and energy, begs the question, has anything changed since the 70’s? We are still struggling with rising prices, unemployment and finding a sense of belonging. This socially aware comedy bridges generations, captivating both loyal fans and newbies to the movement that is Northern Soul.
Keep the faith! And catch this whilst you can.