THERE have been few dramas set around the Grand National. Indeed, it seems there have been none at all.
Now Liverpool writer Ed Barrett has penned the first and it will be given its world premiere at Liverpool’s Unity Theatre later this month.
The Long Shot is set in a Liverpool cabaret bar at the time of the 1970 Grand National, and Barrett describes it as a comedy-drama.
A former teacher who once taught English in Japan and later became a salesman, Barrett previously wrote poetry and monologues.
He gave up his job as a salesman to take part in the 2002 Clipper race, sailing on the Liverpool Clipper. The boat came third in the race but Barrett left it in Hong Kong. “I think they did better after I left,” he says.
But on the voyage he dreamed of becoming a writer and on his return joined the theatre company run by Liverpool actress Tina Malone.
He was involved in her play The Wedding and that encouraged him to write.
Having written his play, he was determined to put it on himself. He dropped in at the Unity one day, they had some dates spare and that was it.
He has taken most of his large cast (14 at the last count) from Ms Malone’s group.
They include John Camp-bell who appeared at the Liverpool Everyman in Urban Legend, and Danny O’Brien who appeared in Lost Souls by Dave Kirby at the Unity. Kirby, co-author of the hit show Brick Up the Mersey Tunnels, has been an encouragement.
