Fred Lawless

Fred Lawless is a British playwright from Liverpool who writes mainly for the stage, but also for television and radio.

Fred Lawless – Playwright

Biography

Fred Lawless was born in Dingle, Liverpool. He attended St Patrick's School in Toxteth before his family moved to Halewood. He later attended Wade Deacon Grammar School, Widnes.

After grammar school he attended Liverpool Catering College and trained as a hotel manager, eventually working in several Liverpool City Centre hotels. Several years later he gave up hotel management and ran a stall at the famous Paddy's Market in Liverpool. While working there he met Jonte Wilkins, and the two of them started the UK's first kissogram company,[1] Champagne-a-gram from an office in Aigburth. Shortly after Wilkins left for the US and eventually became the drummer for the British band a Flock of Seagulls.

Lawless continued to run the kissogram business for several years, eventually employing 30 staff. One of the kissogram staff he employed was Mal Young who worked for him as a Tarzan-a-gram. After leaving Champagne-a-gram Young entered the TV industry and eventually became producer of Liverpool-based soap opera Brookside. Many years later Young interviewed Lawless with a view to him joining the writing team at Brookside, but instead he chose to write for EastEnders. In addition to his TV work, he has also written for BBC Radio. Nowadays he works primarily in theatre and wrote the Christmas show at the Royal Court Theatre Liverpool from 2009 until 2016.

Lawless is a director of The Script Vault Ltd,[2] a script registration service for writers who wish to protect their copyright.

He is a lifelong Everton supporter and season ticket holder[3]

Previous work

Theatre

• BEST! – a fictional comedy musical about the Beatles and their first drummer Pete Best at Liverpool's Everyman Theatre and the Dublin Theatre Festival.[4][5]
• Sleeping Cities, Distant Dreams – at the Royal Exchange Theatre module in Manchester.
• Educating Peter – at the Liverpool Playhouse Studio.
• Beyond Benidorm – at the Liverpool Playhouse Studio.
• Slappers and Slapheads – a comedy (co-written with Len Pentin) first performed in 2003 at the Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool.[6] The play was staged again in 2004 at the Liverpool Empire Theatre and the Manchester Opera House, before returning again to the Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool in February 2009.[7] Following the 2009 production the play won the Liverpool Daily Post Readers Award for Best Production and Best Comedy[8]
• Merry Ding Dong – a comedy musical staged at the Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool from 11 December 2009 to 23 January 2010.[9][10]
• A Fistful of Collars – a comedy staged at the Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool from 16 April 2010 to 15 May 2010.[11][12]
• Scouse Pacific – a comedy musical staged at the Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool from 26 November 2010 to 8 January 2011. The show was extended until 15 January and then extended again until 22 January.[13][14][15]
• Little Scouse on the Prairie – a comedy musical staged at the Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool from 25 November 2011 to 7 January 2012. The show was extended until 21 January.[16][17][18]
• A Nightmare on Lime Street – a comedy musical staged at the Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool from 23 November 2012 to 12 January 2013. The show was extended until 26 January.[19][20][21][22]
• The Hitchhiker's Guide to Fazakerley – a comedy musical staged at the Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool from 22 November 2013 to 11 January 2014.[23][24][25][26]
• Scouse Of The Antarctic – a comedy musical staged at the Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool from 21 November 2014 to 17 January 2015.[27][28][29][30][31]
• Pharaoh 'Cross The Mersey – a comedy musical staged at the Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool from 27 November 2015 to 16 January 2016.[32][33]

Television

• EastEnders – BBC One
• Family Affairs – Channel 5
• Crossroads (2001) – Carlton Television

Radio

• Close Enough To Touch – a dramatisation of the 1939 HMS Thetis submarine disaster in Liverpool Bay for BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio Merseyside and the BBC World Service.[34]
• Paradise People – a 24 part comedy series for BBC Radio Merseyside (co-written with Len Pentin)

Notes

1. The Liverpool Quiz Book – K. Hignett, 1986, Gallery Press (South Wirral)
2. The Script Vault.
3. Famous Everton Fans, bluekipper.com; accessed 4 June 2017.
4. Review – BEST! – 'It could have all been a bit intense, instead it was largely hilarious.' 'Brilliant... for Pete's sake, go!', Liverpool Echo; accessed 4 June 2017.
5. Review – BEST! – 'Very entertaining …good jokes abound. 'The Sacking of Pete Best' By Spencer Leigh ISBN 978-1-900711-04-3
6. Review – Slappers and Slapheads – July 2003 'One of the best nights of home-grown comedy theatre to be enjoyed in a long time.'Archived 14 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
7. "Review – Slappers and Slapheads – February 2009 'Some great lines, great actors and great tunes.'". Archived from the original on 3 September 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
8. "Slappers and Slapheads wins Liverpool Daily Post Best Production and Best Comedy awards". Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
9. "Review – Merry Ding Dong in the Stage newspaper – December 2009 '...possibly the Christmas show to see on Merseyside.'". Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2010.
10. Review – Merry Ding Dong in the Guardian newspaper – January 2010 'Lawless's writing is designed to inspire the laughter of recognition.'
11. "Review – A Fistful Of Collars in the Liverpool Daily Post – April 2010 '...has the audience roaring.'". Archived from the original on 4 August 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
12. Review – A Fistful Of Collars on www.clickliverpool.com – April 2010 '...two hours of hilarity and mayhem.' Archived 31 July 2012 at Archive.today
13. "Review – Scouse Pacific in The Stage – December 2010 'Cleverly written, brilliantly acted and totally crazy... Lawless has the ability to make even the most ridiculous plot work.'". Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
14. Review – Scouse Pacific on www.liverpoolconfidential.com – December 2010 'it all works rather brilliantly... go and see it. Now!' Archived 4 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine
15. Review – Scouse Pacific – The Liverpool Daily Post – December 2010 'I was blown away... superb... a wildly enthusiastic audience.' Archived 12 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine
16. "Review – Little Scouse On The Prairie on www.whatsonstage.com – December 2011 'Lawless has another hit on his hands!' 4 stars". Archived from the original on 9 February 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
17. Review – Little Scouse On The Prairie on The Reviews Hub – December 2011 'One of the most original comic plays seen in recent times!'
18. "Review – Little Scouse On The Prairie on www.clickliverpool.com December 2011 'A writer of clear comic talent.'". Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
19. Review – A Nightmare on Lime Street on www.liverpoolsoundandvision.co.uk – December 2012 '...brilliant', 'Fred Lawless’ script delivers yet again.' 5 stars
20. Review – A Nightmare on Lime Street on www.whatsonstage.com – December 2012 'Lawless’ show deserves a 5 star rating as an unmissable production this Christmas.' 5 stars
21. Review – A Nightmare on Lime Street on The Reviews Hub – December 2012 'writer Fred Lawless once again brings the humour to the stage in bucket loads.' 4 stars
22. "Review – A Nightmare on Lime Street on www.clickliverpool.com December 2012 'Acclaimed writer Fred Lawless continues his run of fine form with another fantastic festive production' 'hilarious and original.' 9/10". Archived from the original on 19 January 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
23. Review – The Hitchhiker's Guide to Fazakerley on www.wirralglobe.co.uk – December 2013 'Royal Court show is out of this world!' 'This is the fifth Fred Lawless written festive show and the best. A law unto himself but who pitches his Panto meets slapstick with great skill.' 9/10
24. Review – The Hitchhiker's Guide To Fazakerley on www.liverpoolsoundandvision.co.uk – December 2013 '...immensely enjoyable', 'Fred Lawless delivers the precise remedy for the winter blues.' 9/10
25. "Review – The Hitchhiker's Guide To Fazakerley on www.clickliverpool.com December 2013 '...a fun-filled feast that will have the theatre's audiences laughing out loud at the shenanigans taking place on stage.' 5/5". Archived from the original on 4 December 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
26. Review – The Hitchhiker's Guide To Fazakerley on www.liverpool-live.info December 2013 '...a hilarious new show ', 'It is writer Fred Lawless’ fifth consecutive year and he’s produced a feel good, laugh out loud, scousetastic festive treat.'
27. Review – Scouse Of The Antarctic on www.wirralglobe.co.uk – December 2014 'A Festive Cracker!' 5 stars
28. Review – Scouse Of The Antarctic on The Reviews Hub December 2014 'Best Royal Court show in years!' 5 stars
29. Review – Scouse Of The Antarctic on www.liverpoolsoundandvision.co.uk – December 2014 '...gives the audience the greatest of nights', 'Fred Lawless’ fifth winter contribution to the Royal Court Theatre and it has to be suggested that it is his finest yet.' 9/10
30. Review – Scouse Of The Antarctic in The Liverpool Echo December 2014 '...supremely silly and very enjoyable.' 4 stars
31. Review – Scouse Of The Antarctic on www.liverpool-live.info December 2014 'The best Christmas show at the Royal Court Theatre yet. Hold onto your sleigh – this is one hilarious ride!' 10/10
32. Review – Pharaoh 'Cross The Mersey on www.wirralglobe.co.uk – December 2015 'Fun, frolics and festive frenzy.' 4 stars
33. Review – Pharaoh 'Cross The Mersey on www.liverpoolsoundandvision.co.uk – December 2015 'Fred Lawless’ latest comedy smash' 9/10
34. Review – Close Enough To Touch 'I can say that this represents the very best of radio, engaging the imagination and emotions'

External links

Fred Lawless on IMDb

• www.radiolistings.co.uk Details of radio plays written by Fred Lawless
• Liverpool Echo Article about Fred Lawless "Unknown". Retrieved 10 January 2020.
• Doollee – The Playwrights Database Details of stage plays written by Fred Lawless
• Royal Court Liverpool website
• Writers' Guild Article about Fred Lawless
• Liverpool Daily Post Article about Fred Lawless
• Wikipedia page for HMS Thetis
• The Script Vault website