Slappers and Slapheads
Encyclopedia
Slappers 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
.
, a famous Liverpool nightclub which closed in 2008.) Each of the various characters in the play appears to have come to the Palace for a night of fun and to 'cop off' with someone of the opposite sex, but as the various plots unfold we discover that they are in fact all there for very different reasons. As each character pursues their quest the play moves up a gear bringing about a fast paced second act in which comedy inter-weaves with some sad moments.
Paul Duckworth as Chris
Gillian Hardie as Donna
Gina Lamb as Elaine
Linzi Matthews as Sue
Mike Neary as Billy
Liam Tobin as Gary/Barry
Pete Price
as Pete Price
from Friday 6th February to Saturday 7th March 2009 with the following cast:
Helen Carter as Sue
Warren Donnelly as Chris
Gillian Hardie as Donna
Mike Neary as Billy
Alan Stocks as Gary/Barry
Keddy Sutton as Elaine
Pete Price
as Pete Price
The director will be Bob Eaton and the producer Kevin Fearon.
on 4th July 2003:
With a title like this you could be forgiven for expecting a night of crude humour and sexist jibes. Instead we were treated to one of the best nights of home-grown comedy theatre to be enjoyed in a long time. Filled with laughter, pathos and consistently excellent performances Slappers and Slapheads was a real triumph.
Penned by Liverpool duo Len Pentin and Fred Lawless, the action was set in The Palace, a city club with more than a passing resemblance to the infamous Grafton in West Derby. Pete Price made an early appearance as the club DJ adding his own brand of humour to get the audience in the mood and add an extra layer of realism as he introduced some disco classics
The cast of Gillian Hardie, Gina Lamb, Linzi Matthews, Liam Tobin, Michael Neary and Paul Duckworth were outstanding throughout, skilfully combining raucous slapstick with moving drama.
The first half was packed to the rafters with visual and verbal gags but, after the interval, the mood turned, as drunken nights out in clubs often do. Despite the more serious topics of birth and death, Pentin and Lawless managed to keep the laughter coming and more than one audience member alternatively wiped away tears of mirth and sadness.
It was a little tricky to work out when the ending was coming as a series of short vignettes finished the play with each character resolving their problems before heading into the night. But when the finale finally came, many of the audience rose to their feet to deliver a well-deserved standing ovation.
They may have been slappers and slapheads but they proved to be the perfect companions for another great night at the Liverpool Comedy Festival.'
Fred Lawless
Fred Lawless is a British writer from Liverpool who has written for television, radio and theatre.-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 the Wade Deacon Grammar School in Widnes...
and Len Pentin. The play was first performed in 2003 at the Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool
Royal 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...
returning the following year to the Liverpool Empire Theatre
Liverpool Empire Theatre
Liverpool 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 Manchester Opera House
Manchester Opera House
The 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...
.
Plot
The play is set in a fictional Liverpool nightclub called The Palace (it has been suggested that The Palace is in fact based on The Grafton BallroomThe Grafton Ballroom
The Grafton Ballroom was an entertainment centre in Liverpool, England that on opened on February 2, 1924. it was a purpose-built dance hall able to accommodate 1200 dancers. It was built next to the Locarno Ballroom which is now known as the Liverpool Olympia...
, a famous Liverpool nightclub which closed in 2008.) Each of the various characters in the play appears to have come to the Palace for a night of fun and to 'cop off' with someone of the opposite sex, but as the various plots unfold we discover that they are in fact all there for very different reasons. As each character pursues their quest the play moves up a gear bringing about a fast paced second act in which comedy inter-weaves with some sad moments.
Original Cast
The original cast were:Paul Duckworth as Chris
Gillian Hardie as Donna
Gina Lamb as Elaine
Linzi Matthews as Sue
Mike Neary as Billy
Liam Tobin as Gary/Barry
Pete Price
Pete Price
Pete Price is a British media personality and radio presenter, based in Merseyside, England. He is best known for the Sunday night talk radio show Pete Price: Unzipped, broadcast across sister stations City Talk 105.9 and Radio City 96.7. The show is aired live from 10pm to 2am and follows an open...
as Pete Price
Pete Price
Pete Price is a British media personality and radio presenter, based in Merseyside, England. He is best known for the Sunday night talk radio show Pete Price: Unzipped, broadcast across sister stations City Talk 105.9 and Radio City 96.7. The show is aired live from 10pm to 2am and follows an open...
Future Performances
The play will be staged again at 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...
from Friday 6th February to Saturday 7th March 2009 with the following cast:
Helen Carter as Sue
Warren Donnelly as Chris
Gillian Hardie as Donna
Mike Neary as Billy
Alan Stocks as Gary/Barry
Keddy Sutton as Elaine
Pete Price
Pete Price
Pete Price is a British media personality and radio presenter, based in Merseyside, England. He is best known for the Sunday night talk radio show Pete Price: Unzipped, broadcast across sister stations City Talk 105.9 and Radio City 96.7. The show is aired live from 10pm to 2am and follows an open...
as Pete Price
Pete Price
Pete Price is a British media personality and radio presenter, based in Merseyside, England. He is best known for the Sunday night talk radio show Pete Price: Unzipped, broadcast across sister stations City Talk 105.9 and Radio City 96.7. The show is aired live from 10pm to 2am and follows an open...
The director will be Bob Eaton and the producer Kevin Fearon.
Review
The following review appeared in the Liverpool Daily PostLiverpool Daily Post
The 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...
on 4th July 2003:
With a title like this you could be forgiven for expecting a night of crude humour and sexist jibes. Instead we were treated to one of the best nights of home-grown comedy theatre to be enjoyed in a long time. Filled with laughter, pathos and consistently excellent performances Slappers and Slapheads was a real triumph.
Penned by Liverpool duo Len Pentin and Fred Lawless, the action was set in The Palace, a city club with more than a passing resemblance to the infamous Grafton in West Derby. Pete Price made an early appearance as the club DJ adding his own brand of humour to get the audience in the mood and add an extra layer of realism as he introduced some disco classics
The cast of Gillian Hardie, Gina Lamb, Linzi Matthews, Liam Tobin, Michael Neary and Paul Duckworth were outstanding throughout, skilfully combining raucous slapstick with moving drama.
The first half was packed to the rafters with visual and verbal gags but, after the interval, the mood turned, as drunken nights out in clubs often do. Despite the more serious topics of birth and death, Pentin and Lawless managed to keep the laughter coming and more than one audience member alternatively wiped away tears of mirth and sadness.
It was a little tricky to work out when the ending was coming as a series of short vignettes finished the play with each character resolving their problems before heading into the night. But when the finale finally came, many of the audience rose to their feet to deliver a well-deserved standing ovation.
They may have been slappers and slapheads but they proved to be the perfect companions for another great night at the Liverpool Comedy Festival.'