# Good Fun > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Good_Fun > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Good_Fun.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Fun > Source revision: 1316349604 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) 1980 play by Victoria Wood The script for *Good Fun*, published by [Methuen](/source/Methuen_Publishing) in 1988. **Good Fun** is a play by [Victoria Wood](/source/Victoria_Wood), first performed in 1980. It is set in an [arts centre](/source/Arts_centre) in [north west England](/source/North_west_England).[1] ## Origins Wood, keen to trade on her previous stage success *[Talent](/source/Talent_(1978_play))*, was commissioned to write another play by impresario [Michael Codron](/source/Michael_Codron). "I wrote one called *Pals*, which he said was 'very enjoyable'. This is a euphemism for wincing, so it went in the bin. I then wrote another called *Good Fun*."[2] ## Performance The play was first performed in April 1980 at [Sheffield](/source/Sheffield)'s [Crucible Theatre](/source/Crucible_Theatre).[3] It was directed by [David Leland](/source/David_Leland).[4] It starred [Annabel Leventon](/source/Annabel_Leventon) as Liz, [Charles McKeown](/source/Charles_McKeown) as Frank, Gregory Floy as Mike, Victoria Wood as Lynne, Joe Figg as Kev, [Julie Walters](/source/Julie_Walters) as Betty, [Noreen Kershaw](/source/Noreen_Kershaw) as Gail and [Christopher Hancock](/source/Christopher_Hancock) as Maurice. The show was then performed at the Crucible Theatre again in June that year with some cast changes. [Polly James](/source/Polly_James) played Liz, [Sam Kelly](/source/Sam_Kelly) played Frank and [Meg Johnson](/source/Meg_Johnson_(actress)) played Betty.[2] After the Crucible's second version, the plan was to transfer the play to the [West End](/source/West_End_theatre). Though this never happened, it was performed at the [King’s Head Theatre](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=King%E2%80%99s_Head_Theatre&action=edit&redlink=1) in [Islington](/source/Islington). Wood said she heard a man at the interval saying "It's a bit witty witty isn't it?" Wood's view of the play was that "there was an awful lot wrong with it but there were some lovely performances and the audiences enjoyed it." After *Good Fun* Wood concentrated on television comedy and her career as a stand up comic. However, she did write two more plays, "which to save bothering Michael Codron, I called 'very enjoyable' and put straight in the bin."[2] ## Reviews Robin Thurber of *[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)* said "*Good Fun* is just that... full of knowing little laughs. Dry laughs, belly laughs, dirty laughs and running giggles". [James Fenton](/source/James_Fenton) of *[The Sunday Times](/source/The_Sunday_Times)* said "pigeon holers will find a space for (Wood) beside [Joe Orton](/source/Joe_Orton) and [Ken Dodd](/source/Ken_Dodd)...But her voice is characteristically and aggressively female. Just like *Talent*... *Good Fun*s rude words, hilarious gags and the insights which are more varied than either are all in the mouths of the women at its centre."[2] ## Songs **Act One** - "Liz's Song" - "Community Arts" - "I've Had It Up To Here" - "Turned Out Nice Again" **Act Two** - "Make a Joke" - "Handicrafts" - "Frank and Gail Duet" - "I'll Do Anything" - "Bloody Clowns" - "Good Fun" [5] ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Brandwood_1-0)** Brandwood, Neil (2002). *Victoria Wood – The Biography* (1st ed.). London: [Boxtree](/source/Macmillan_Publishers). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-85227-982-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-85227-982-6). 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-scriptbook_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-scriptbook_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-scriptbook_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-scriptbook_2-3) Wood, Victoria Wood (1988). *Good Fun & Talent* (1st ed.). London: [Methuen](/source/Methuen_Publishing). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780413187406](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780413187406). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Evans, Daniel (12 September 2011). ["The Crucible at 40: a new stage in life – in pictures"](https://www.theguardian.com/stage/gallery/2011/sep/12/crucible-40-theatre-in-pictures) – via [The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Walters, Julie (16 April 2009). [*That's Another Story: The Autobiography*](https://books.google.com/books?id=Z5gBuaTPCWEC&dq=good+fun+victoria+wood+sheffield+directed+by+david+leland&pg=PT212). [Orion](/source/Orion_Publishing_Group). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780297857488](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780297857488) – via [Google Books](/source/Google_Books). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Wood, Victoria Wood (1988). Good Fun & Talent (1st ed.). London: Methuen. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780413187406](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780413187406). v t e Victoria Wood Sketch shows Wood and Walters (1981) As Seen on TV (1985–87; episodes; Acorn Antiques) Julie Walters and Friends (1991) All Day Breakfast (1992) With All the Trimmings (2000) Mid Life Christmas (2009) Theatre In at the Death (1978) Talent (1978) Good Fun (1980) Acorn Antiques: The Musical! (2005) That Day We Sang (2011) Television dramas Talent (1979) Nearly a Happy Ending (1980) Happy Since I Met You (1981) Pat and Margaret (1994) Housewife, 49 (2006) Eric and Ernie (2011) Loving Miss Hatto (2012) That Day We Sang (2014) Situation comedies Victoria Wood (1989) Dinnerladies (1998–2000; episodes) Television documentaries Victoria's Empire (2007) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Good Fun](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Fun) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Fun?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.