The York Realist


The York Realist is a 2001 play by Gill (playwright)|Peter Gill]. It was premiered at the Lowry in November 2001 before moving to the Bristol Old Vic and the Royal Court Theatre in January 2002 by English Touring Theatre, with Gill himself directing. It transferred to the Strand Theatre in March 2002.

Plot

It is set in the early 1960s and revolves around George, John, the love affair between them, and the clash between regional and London culture.

Reception

Reviews of the original production ranged from "a rare blast of reality" to a "stunningly boring slab of dour social realism".
The play was nominated for Best New Play at the Olivier Awards and Evening [Standard Theatre Awards] and won the Critics Circle Award for Best New Play.

Original cast

The play was revived in October 2009 at Riverside Studios by Good Night Out Presents. The production received positive reviews, with Michael Billington describing the production as "lovingly revived by Adam Spreadbury-Maher". The production was seen as particularly fitting given that Gill founded the Riverside Studios in 1975, and that this would be the first Gill production at the theatre for 30 years. The play was revived in September 2009 at the Riverside Studios by the company Good Night Out Presents, to mark Gill's 70th birthday. It was revived again in February 2018 at the Donmar Warehouse.
Role--
RoleOct 2009 Riverside StudiosFeb 2018 Donmar Warehouse
GeorgeStephen HaganBen Batt
JohnMatthew BurtonJonathan Bailey
George and Barbara's MotherStephanie FayermanLesley Nicol
BarbaraFiona GordonLucy Black
ArthurSam HazeldineMatthew Wilson
DoreenSarah WaddellKatie West
JackJack BlumeneauBrian Fletcher

Riverside Studios Creative Team