THIS powerful one-man play brought memories flooding back of John Bevan, a true sporting icon—and for me, a look back at my own school days under a man who was a class act both on the pitch and in the classroom.
As a youngster standing on the Fletcher End at Wilderspool, cheering on the Wire, I never imagined that years later I would be sitting in the Halliwell Jones Stadium reviewing a play about my former RE and PE teacher, John Bevan.
Written by Welsh playwright Mari Lloyd, Vevan’s sister-in-law, this gripping monologue covers three life-changing years of the 1970s.
It brilliantly captures the immense pressure and pride of a young man transitioning from the amateur, triumphant glory of the 1971 British & Irish Lions tour of New Zealand into the unforgiving, professional world of Rugby League.
For those of us who remember the hostility aimed at Welsh stars who chose to “go north” to become codebreakers, the emotional weight of this play hits incredibly hard.
The story takes the audience right to the heart of the action, culminating in Bevan’s sensational first season at Warrington, which famously led the club all the way to the Challenge Cup final at Wembley.
The outstanding Scott Gutteridge
Actor Scott Gutteridge (RADA, RSC, Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast) delivers an absolutely stellar, powerhouse performance. To hold an audience captivated for a full-length monologue is no easy feat, but Gutteridge commands the stage with the same explosive presence that Bevan used to command the wing.
Directed seamlessly by Julia Stubbs, the production balances raw athletic intensity with deeply personal, vulnerable reflections.
Watching the play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, as our town celebrates its rich 150-years of rugby heritage, was incredibly moving.
Having my own personal connection to John from my time at school made it even more poignant. To me, he was always a larger-than-life figure who commanded respect, but this production peels back the layers of the legend to show the human being behind the headlines with his famous try scorer salute. This is a magnificent piece of theatre. It is an absolute must-watch for any Wire fan, rugby enthusiast, or anyone who loves a deeply human story of courage, change, and community.
There is currently no video footage of this outstanding play in existence – my recommendation would be to create a film to inspire future generations of the hard graft and tough decisions that need to be taken to achieve success in life.
This is the story of a guy who broke tradition with his deep Welsh roots to start a new life in an alien world, rather than having to sign on the dole, something he experienced once but never again.
Thank you for the memories John. Also, a huge well done to Neil Kelly from the Warrington Wolves Foundation for helping bring this all together.
The Production:
John Bevan: Team Player – From Lions to League
The Venue: The Platinum Lounge, Halliwell Jones Stadium
The Playwright: Mari Lloyd (Bevan’s sister-in-law)
The Actor: Scott Gutteridge
The Director: Julia Stubbs.
2 Comments
I went to the opening night. Very accurate review Gary well done and yes it was a marvellous evening.
Thanks Stephen – written from the heart