Bouncers @ Darlington Civic

Take 4 actors, already brilliant in their own careers and add to them the witty, insightful and hilarious writing of one of this country's best playwrights and what do you get - one of the funniest shows seen at Darlington Civic in years.

Bouncers takes us on a voyeuristic journey through the seedy nightlife of Britain's club culture as told by 4 doormen.  If you've ever wondered what these bastions of the entry queue get up to on a quiet night, or how they unwind after a heavy Saturday shift then this show lifts the lid on the toilet humour and lets you gaze down into the dirty water.

The fore-mentioned doormen make up one third of the clubbing collective, the others being a group of 4 guys out on the pull and 4 girls who are done up, clubbed up and p... well, out having a few end of week drinks.  The genius comes from the fact that all parts are played by just the 4 men, dressed in eponymous bouncer uniform of black suit, black vest and shades with only a white handbag each as prop as they don their feminine alter-egos.

Meet giggly girls and lads on the make as they prepare for their big night out. Later in the tatty, glitzy glamour and flashing lights of the nightclub follow their progress to the disco floor where an entire cross-section of disco-goers including lip-sticked, lacquered girls, and over indulged slobs gyrate to the pulsating beat.  And as Friday night gives way to Saturday morning the ever watchful, ever ready, ever observant ........... BOUNCERS take it all in. Slow dances, snogging, late night kebabs it’s all there. A journey through one of those nights that everyone has had and most would like to forget.

Told almost like 4 intertwined monologues, the humour is only punctuated for one of Lucky Eric's speeches which serve to unveil the seedier underbelly of the club scene.  This play appeals to anyone who has ever been to a club, pub or anywhere else on a Friday/Saturday night in town.  We have all seen the characters; we may even have been them on some nights (although we may not like to admit it!).

Delivering the tri-factor of nightly insight are Ace Bhatti, Don Gilet, William Ilkley and Ian

Reddington - familiar names and even more familiar faces.  Each has their own unique take on being a bouncer, a boozed up clubber and, funniest of all, a tipsy party girl looking for a free pizza and a quick kiss. 

Voted one of the greatest plays of the 20th century by the National Theatre, Bouncers has been winning awards for the past 20 years and will continue to do so for the next 20 years, after all, as each generation finds its way to the night club the Bouncers will be there waiting.

Grab your tickets now and enjoy the funniest show on the circuit, just be warned, you may recognise yourself up on stage.