Fred Lawless

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Fred Lawless
Fred Lawless - Playwright.jpg
Fred Lawless – Playwright
Born
Dingle, Liverpool, England
EducationSt Patrick's School, Toxteth, Wade Deacon Grammar School, Widnes, Liverpool Catering College
Occupation(s)Playwright, television writer, radio writer
Known forWriting for stage, television, and radio
Notable workEastEnders, Royal Court Theatre Liverpool Christmas shows

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

Contents

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

Television

Radio

Notes

  1. Hignett, K (1986). The Liverpool Quiz Book, 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!' [ permanent dead link ]
  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". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  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'

Fred Lawless at IMDb

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