Fred Lawless
Encyclopedia
Fred Lawless is a British
writer from Liverpool
who has written for television, radio and theatre.
Liverpool
. He attended St Patrick's School in Toxteth
before his family moved to Halewood
. He later attended the Wade Deacon Grammar School in Widnes
(now the Wade Deacon High School since 1974). Coincidentally another Liverpool writer Alan Bleasdale
had also attended Wade Deacon a few years earlier.
After grammar school Lawless attended Liverpool Catering College and trained as a hotel manager, eventually working in several Liverpool city centre hotels. Several years later Lawless gave up hotel management and ran a stall at the famous Paddy's Market in Liverpool. While working there Lawless met Jonte Wilkins, and the two of them started the UK's first kissogram
company, 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 Lawless 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 Lawless instead chose to write for the London
based TV series Eastenders
.
In addition to his TV work, Lawless has also written for BBC Radio. Nowadays he works primarily in theatre.
In 1991 he befriended U2
lead singer Bono
after meeting him during a plane journey. The following year he visited Bono
in Dublin and stayed overnight in a rundown 2 star hotel called The Clarence on the banks of the River Liffey
. After discovering the hotel was up for sale he suggested to Bono
that buying and refurbishing a hotel in such a prime location might be a good investment. The following year Bono
purchased the hotel with U2
guitarist The Edge
. The hotel was completely refurbished and is now a 5 star boutique establishment frequented by many A-list
celebrities. Despite its fame the hotel lost €1.6M In 2009.
Fred Lawless currently resides in Todmorden
West Yorkshire, but continues to spend a considerable amount of time in Liverpool due to his work with Liverpool theatres. He is a lifelong Everton F.C.
supporter and season ticket holder
. 'Little Scouse On The Prairie' is a new comedy musical and will be staged from 25 November 2010 to 7 January 2011.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
writer from Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
who has written for television, radio and theatre.
Biography
Fred Lawless was born in DingleDingle, Liverpool
Dingle is an inner-city area of Liverpool, Merseyside, England. It is located to the south of the city, bordered by the adjoining districts of Toxteth and Aigburth...
Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
. He attended St Patrick's School in Toxteth
Toxteth
Toxteth is an inner city area of Liverpool, England. Located to the south of the city, Toxteth is bordered by Liverpool City Centre, Dingle, Edge Hill, Wavertree and Aigburth.-Description:...
before his family moved to Halewood
Halewood
Halewood is in Merseyside, England and is located in the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley. The district lies near Liverpool's southeastern boundary, bordered by the suburbs of Hunts Cross and Woolton....
. He later attended the Wade Deacon Grammar School in Widnes
Widnes
Widnes is an industrial town within the borough of Halton, in Cheshire, England, with an urban area population of 57,663 in 2004. It is located on the northern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form the Runcorn Gap. Directly to the south across the Mersey is the town of Runcorn...
(now the Wade Deacon High School since 1974). Coincidentally another Liverpool writer Alan Bleasdale
Alan Bleasdale
Alan Bleasdale is an English television dramatist, best known for writing several social realist drama serials based on the lives of ordinary people.The Bleasdales live in prescot,liverpool,wales and london.-Early life:Bleasdale is an only child; his father worked in a food factory and his mother...
had also attended Wade Deacon a few years earlier.
After grammar school Lawless attended Liverpool Catering College and trained as a hotel manager, eventually working in several Liverpool city centre hotels. Several years later Lawless gave up hotel management and ran a stall at the famous Paddy's Market in Liverpool. While working there Lawless met Jonte Wilkins, and the two of them started the UK's first kissogram
Kissogram
A kissogram, also called kissagram , is a message delivered along with a kiss usually arranged as a fun surprise for a person for a special occasion...
company, Champagne-a-gram from an office in Aigburth
Aigburth
Aigburth is a suburb of Liverpool, Merseyside, England. Located to the south of the city, it is bordered by Dingle, Mossley Hill, and Garston.-History:...
. Shortly after Wilkins left for the US and eventually became the drummer for the British band A Flock of Seagulls
A Flock of Seagulls
A Flock of Seagulls are an English New Wave band originally formed by brothers Michael "Mike" Score and Alister "Ali" James Score , with Frank Maudsley , Michael Kuby , H.J...
. Lawless continued to run the kissogram
Kissogram
A kissogram, also called kissagram , is a message delivered along with a kiss usually arranged as a fun surprise for a person for a special occasion...
business for several years, eventually employing 30 staff. One of the kissogram
Kissogram
A kissogram, also called kissagram , is a message delivered along with a kiss usually arranged as a fun surprise for a person for a special occasion...
staff Lawless employed was Mal Young
Mal Young
Mal Young is a British television producer and executive producer.-Background:His initial career was in the Graphic Design industry, and it was not until the age of 27 that he began working in television, on the acclaimed Channel 4 soap opera Brookside.Working on the show for nearly a decade, he...
who worked for him as a Tarzan
Tarzan
Tarzan is a fictional character, an archetypal feral child raised in the African jungles by the Mangani "great apes"; he later experiences civilization only to largely reject it and return to the wild as a heroic adventurer...
-a-gram. After leaving Champagne-a-gram Young entered the TV industry and eventually became producer of Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
based soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Brookside
Brookside
Brookside is a defunct British soap opera set in Liverpool, England. The series began on the launch night of Channel 4 on 2 November 1982, and ran for 21 years until 4 November 2003...
. Many years later Young interviewed Lawless with a view to him joining the writing team at Brookside, but Lawless instead chose to write for the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
based TV series Eastenders
EastEnders
EastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
.
In addition to his TV work, Lawless has also written for BBC Radio. Nowadays he works primarily in theatre.
In 1991 he befriended U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
lead singer Bono
Bono
Paul David Hewson , most commonly known by his stage name Bono , is an Irish singer, musician, and humanitarian best known for being the main vocalist of the Dublin-based rock band U2. Bono was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, and attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School where he met his...
after meeting him during a plane journey. The following year he visited Bono
Bono
Paul David Hewson , most commonly known by his stage name Bono , is an Irish singer, musician, and humanitarian best known for being the main vocalist of the Dublin-based rock band U2. Bono was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, and attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School where he met his...
in Dublin and stayed overnight in a rundown 2 star hotel called The Clarence on the banks of the River Liffey
River Liffey
The Liffey is a river in Ireland, which flows through the centre of Dublin. Its major tributaries include the River Dodder, the River Poddle and the River Camac. The river supplies much of Dublin's water, and a range of recreational opportunities.-Name:The river was previously named An Ruirthech,...
. After discovering the hotel was up for sale he suggested to Bono
Bono
Paul David Hewson , most commonly known by his stage name Bono , is an Irish singer, musician, and humanitarian best known for being the main vocalist of the Dublin-based rock band U2. Bono was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, and attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School where he met his...
that buying and refurbishing a hotel in such a prime location might be a good investment. The following year Bono
Bono
Paul David Hewson , most commonly known by his stage name Bono , is an Irish singer, musician, and humanitarian best known for being the main vocalist of the Dublin-based rock band U2. Bono was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, and attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School where he met his...
purchased the hotel with U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
guitarist The Edge
The Edge
David Howell Evans , more widely known by his stage name The Edge , is a musician best known as the guitarist, backing vocalist, and keyboardist of the Irish rock band U2. A member of the group since its inception, he has recorded 12 studio albums with the band and has released one solo record...
. The hotel was completely refurbished and is now a 5 star boutique establishment frequented by many A-list
A-list
A-list is a term that alludes to major movie stars, or the most bankable in the Hollywood film industry.The A-list is part of a larger guide called The Hot List that has become an industry-standard guide in Hollywood...
celebrities. Despite its fame the hotel lost €1.6M In 2009.
Fred Lawless currently resides in Todmorden
Todmorden
Todmorden is a market town and civil parish, located 17 miles from Manchester, within the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale, in West Yorkshire, England. It forms part of the Upper Calder Valley and has a total population of 14,941....
West Yorkshire, but continues to spend a considerable amount of time in Liverpool due to his work with Liverpool theatres. He is a lifelong Everton F.C.
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
supporter and season ticket holder
Theatre
- BEST! - a fictional comedy musical about The BeatlesThe BeatlesThe Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
and their first drummer Pete BestPete BestPete Best is a British musician, best known as the original drummer in The Beatles. He was born in the city of Madras, British India...
at the Liverpool Everyman TheatreEveryman TheatreThe Everyman Theatre stands at the north end of Hope Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, England. Established in 1964 in a former cinema, it encouraged local talent and played a part in the development of new artistes and writers. The theatre was rebuilt between 1975 and 1977, and was closed again for...
and the Dublin Theatre FestivalDublin Theatre FestivalThe Dublin Theatre Festival is Europe's oldest specialized theatre festival. It was founded by theatre impresario Brendan Smith in 1957 and has, with the exception of two years, produced a season of international and Irish theatre each autumn. It is one of a number of key post-World War II events...
. - Sleeping Cities, Distant Dreams - at the Royal Exchange Theatre module in Manchester.
- Educating Peter - at the Liverpool PlayhouseLiverpool PlayhouseThe Liverpool Playhouse is a theatre in Williamson Square in the city of Liverpool, Merseyside, England. It originated in 1866 as a music hall, and in 1911 developed into a repertory theatre. As such it nurtured the early careers of many actors and actresses, some of which went on to achieve...
Studio. - Beyond Benidorm - at the Liverpool PlayhouseLiverpool PlayhouseThe Liverpool Playhouse is a theatre in Williamson Square in the city of Liverpool, Merseyside, England. It originated in 1866 as a music hall, and in 1911 developed into a repertory theatre. As such it nurtured the early careers of many actors and actresses, some of which went on to achieve...
Studio. - Slappers and SlapheadsSlappers and SlapheadsSlappers and Slapheads is a comedy stage play written by Merseyside writers Fred Lawless and Len Pentin. The play was first performed in 2003 at the Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool returning the following year to the Liverpool Empire Theatre and Manchester Opera House.-Plot:The play is set in a...
- a comedy (co-written with Len PentinLen Pentin-Work:His work includes the two-hander All The Best He is also the co-writer of the popular "Liverpool Nightclub"-based play Slappers and Slapheads...
) first performed in 2003 at the Royal Court Theatre, LiverpoolRoyal Court Theatre, LiverpoolThe Royal Court Theatre is a theatre at 1 Roe Street, Liverpool, England. It was built in 1938 in an Art Deco style.-History:Built in the 12th Century, the site of the current Royal Court Theatre was originally a water well...
. The play was staged again in 2004 at the Liverpool Empire TheatreLiverpool Empire TheatreLiverpool Empire Theatre is located on the corner of Lime Street and London Road in Liverpool, Merseyside, England. The theatre is the second to be built on the site, and was opened in 1925. It has the largest two-tier auditorium in Britain and can seat 2,350 people...
and the Manchester Opera HouseManchester Opera HouseThe Opera House in Quay Street, Manchester, England is a 1,920 seater commercial touring theatre which plays host to touring musicals, ballet, concerts and a Christmas pantomime. It is the sister to the Palace Theatre which is a similar venue in nearby Oxford Street at its junction with Whitworth...
, before returning again to the Royal Court Theatre, LiverpoolRoyal Court Theatre, LiverpoolThe Royal Court Theatre is a theatre at 1 Roe Street, Liverpool, England. It was built in 1938 in an Art Deco style.-History:Built in the 12th Century, the site of the current Royal Court Theatre was originally a water well...
in February 2009. Following the 2009 production the play won the Liverpool Daily Post Readers Award for Best Production and Best Comedy - Merry Ding Dong - a comedy musical staged at the Royal Court Theatre, LiverpoolRoyal Court Theatre, LiverpoolThe Royal Court Theatre is a theatre at 1 Roe Street, Liverpool, England. It was built in 1938 in an Art Deco style.-History:Built in the 12th Century, the site of the current Royal Court Theatre was originally a water well...
from 11 December 2009 to 23 January 2010. - A Fistful Of Collars - a comedy staged at the Royal Court Theatre, LiverpoolRoyal Court Theatre, LiverpoolThe Royal Court Theatre is a theatre at 1 Roe Street, Liverpool, England. It was built in 1938 in an Art Deco style.-History:Built in the 12th Century, the site of the current Royal Court Theatre was originally a water well...
from 16 April 2010 to 15 May 2010. - Scouse Pacific - a comedy musical staged at the Royal Court Theatre, LiverpoolRoyal Court Theatre, LiverpoolThe Royal Court Theatre is a theatre at 1 Roe Street, Liverpool, England. It was built in 1938 in an Art Deco style.-History:Built in the 12th Century, the site of the current Royal Court Theatre was originally a water well...
from 26 November 2010 to 8 January 2011. The show was extended until 15 January and then extended again until 22 January.
Television
- EastendersEastEndersEastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
- BBC OneBBC OneBBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution... - Family AffairsFamily AffairsFamily Affairs was a British soap opera broadcast on Five, from 1997 to 2005. It was the second programme to be broadcast on the channel on 30 March 1997, the channel's launch night...
- Channel 4Channel 4Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel... - Crossroads (2001) - Carlton TelevisionCarlton TelevisionCarlton Television was the ITV franchise holder for London and the surrounding counties including the cities of Solihull and Coventry of the West Midlands, south Suffolk, middle and east Hampshire, Oxfordshire, south Bedfordshire, south Northamptonshire, parts of Herefordshire & Worcestershire,...
Radio
- Close Enough To Touch - a dramatisation of the 1939 HMS ThetisHMS ThetisTwelve ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Thetis, named after the sea-nymph in Greek mythology: was a 22-gun storeship launched in 1717. Her fate is unknown. was a 44-gun fifth rate launched in 1747. She became a hospital ship in 1757 and was sold in 1767. was a 32-gun fifth rate...
submarine disaster in Liverpool Bay for BBC Radio 4BBC Radio 4BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
, BBC Radio MerseysideBBC Radio MerseysideBBC Radio Merseyside is the BBC Local Radio service for the English metropolitan county of Merseyside and north Cheshire. It was the third BBC local radio station to launch on 22 November 1967 initially serving the south west of historic Lancashire....
and the BBC World ServiceBBC World ServiceThe BBC World Service is the world's largest international broadcaster, broadcasting in 27 languages to many parts of the world via analogue and digital shortwave, internet streaming and podcasting, satellite, FM and MW relays...
. In March 2010 the script for 'Close Enough To Touch was featured as part of 'Live Read', an online literary festival run by the Liverpool Daily PostLiverpool Daily PostThe Liverpool Daily Post is a newspaper published by Trinity Mirror in Liverpool, Merseyside, England. It is published Monday to Friday and is published in Merseyside, Cheshire, and North Wales editions, and is a morning paper...
newspaper. The script is still available for download, see 'External Links' below. - Paradise People - a 23 part comedy series for BBC Radio MerseysideBBC Radio MerseysideBBC Radio Merseyside is the BBC Local Radio service for the English metropolitan county of Merseyside and north Cheshire. It was the third BBC local radio station to launch on 22 November 1967 initially serving the south west of historic Lancashire....
(co-written with Len Pentin)
Current work
Fred Lawless is writing the 2011 Christmas play for the Royal Court Theatre, LiverpoolRoyal Court Theatre, Liverpool
The Royal Court Theatre is a theatre at 1 Roe Street, Liverpool, England. It was built in 1938 in an Art Deco style.-History:Built in the 12th Century, the site of the current Royal Court Theatre was originally a water well...
. 'Little Scouse On The Prairie' is a new comedy musical and will be staged from 25 November 2010 to 7 January 2011.
External links
- www.radiolistings.co.uk Details of radio plays written by Fred Lawless
- Doollee - The Playwrights Database Details of stage plays written by Fred Lawless
- Royal Court Liverpool website
- Liverpool Daily Post Newspaper Article about Fred Lawless
- 'Close Enough To Touch' radio script download Made available via 'Live Read' online literary festival
- Wikipedia page for HMS ThetisHMS Thetis (N25)HMS Thetis was a Group 1 T-class submarine of the Royal Navy which served under two names. Under her first identity, HMS Thetis, she commenced sea trials on 4 March 1939. She sank during trials on 1 June 1939 with the loss of 99 lives...