WILLIAM Ilkley has coped with a multitude of challenges in his varied career on stage and screen but his opening scene in Christmas Office Party at Hull Truck Theatre was almost a step too far.

Playing the role of bullish office boss Gavin in John Godber’s revived comedy, the West Yorkshire actor must make his entry in a Leeds United shirt. “It’s horrible for me as a lifelong Bradford City fan – my friends are giving me a right ribbing at the moment,” he reveals. “And I’m so ashamed that I can’t get over to a game as I’m busy with this show.”

William was a leading member of Godber’s repertory troupe at Hull Truck from 1988 to 2001 and is no stranger to performing in The Office Party in its various guises. “There was the bizarre 1992 version that was all in verse, for the Nottingham Playhouse, and then went to New York for a theatre festival, where it didn’t do very well as people didn’t know how to take it!

“John re-wrote it for Christmas 1994 at the Watford Palace Theatre, where I was first in it and then I did it at Hull Truck the following year.”

On the previous two occasions William was cast as the grouchy, errant office slouch, Bob. Now, for a newly updated version set in 1998, he is playing the self-made boss of Chapman and Howard, a Leeds company striving to make its mark in the London-centric advertising industry.

“I’m more mature now. I don’t have to play the fool any more; I can play the boss! Gavin is a far better role now, after John has re-located the play to when New Labour had just come into power.

“Now, 12 to 13 years later, the message is: is it any better now? We’re still in a recession; businesses are going out of business.

“That was part of John’s intention, having a dig at New Labour branding and what it all meant.”

Godber’s bitter drama analyses the concept of change and the nature of image, two cornerstones of the surge to power of Tony Blair. “He has made Office Party even bleaker now, especially with what’s going on at the moment in his own life,” says William, referring to Godber’s decision to step down from the role of creative director Hull Truck in the wake of changes suggested by new chief executive Andrew Smaje.

“There’s that undercurrent there for those in the know, with digs at what’s going on with the management at Hull Truck, but that doesn’t impinge on anyone who doesn’t know that.”

However the future pans out for Godber and Hull Truck, in the meantime William is enjoying playing Gavin, an old-school boss. “He’s very much of his time, and a lot of business practices that he does, you wouldn’t get away with now. No way!

“He’s a grafter, always prepared to break the system… but I don’t think he’d survive today.”

• Christmas Office Party runs at Hull Truck Theatre, Hull, until January 15. Box office: 01482 323638.