HULL TRUCK playwright and artistic director John Godber stepped into the breach for a second night to replace Adrian Hood in Perfect Pitch at York Theatre Royal.

Godber may be snowed under with writing his new play Thick As A Brick, but decided he was the man to perform the role of pitbull terrier-breeding former South Yorkshire miner Grant after Adrian was taken ill with an abscess in his mouth.

On Thursday, on meeting up with his cast at 5.30pm for a hasty rehearsal, he took to the stage with the aid of a script at 7.30pm.

John's parents had already booked tickets for that night's show as part of his mother's birthday celebrations, and so she ended up enjoying an extra present, watching John on stage.

Theatre Royal executive director Elizabeth Jones, who announced Godber's involvement at the start of Thursday's performance, said: "We were delighted that John was able to step in at such short notice. Actors will always try to go on if at all possible, but losing your voice is just too difficult to overcome. John's parents and the audience alike enjoyed a very entertaining evening at one of his best comedies."

Godber is no stranger to stepping into a crisis. At York Arts Centre, he once took over a role in Shakers ... to play a cocktail bar waitress, in his tracksuit.

The camp-site comedy Perfect Pitch will run in York until April 3.

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