The Pool (later subtitled City of Culture?) is a play written by and starring James Brough and Helen Elizabeth. The plot follows David (Brough), a Londoner who finds himself stranded in Liverpool, where he meets Tina (Elizabeth). David persuades Tina to take the day off work and the two spend a day in the city together. The play is a mixture of verse and prose. Brough and Elizabeth conceived it while appearing at the 2004 Edinburgh Fringe. They returned to perform it at The Gilded Balloon in 2006. It has also been performed at the Arts Theatre in London and the Unity Theatre in Liverpool. A film adaptation directed by David Morrissey premiered at the 2009 London Film Festival and was broadcast on BBC Two on 7 March 2010.
Performance history The play premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2006, where Brough and Elizabeth won the Fringe First award for new writing. It transferred to the Arts Theatre in London's West End for a limited run at the end of 2006, before a three-day run from 24 to 27 January 2007 at Liverpool's Unity Theatre."Unity News - February 2007" (PDF). Unity Theatre. Retrieved on 6 January 2009. It returned to the Arts Theatre for a three-week run from 3 to 21 April 2007, now subtitled City of Culture?Ansdell, Caroline (27 February 2007). "Fringe First Winner Pool Gets Spring Arts Season". Whatsonstage.com. Retrieved on 6 January 2009.
Film adaptation Brough and Elizabeth, with David Morrissey, adapted the play into a feature film called Don't Worry About Me after Morrissey saw it at the Arts.Staff (6 November 2008). "Brief Encounter With … David Morrissey". Whatsonstage.com. Retrieved on 6 January 2009. Brough and Elizabeth reprise their roles as David and Tina. It was filmed on location in Liverpool in September and October 2007 on a budget of £100,000.Owens, Paula (11 October 2007). "Liverpool's such a haven for filmmakers, says star". Liverpool Daily Post (Trinity Mirror). Retrieved on 6 January 2009.Husband, Stuart (24 February 2008). "David Morrissey: The incredible disappearing man". The Daily Telegraph (Telegraph Media Group). Retrieved on 6 January 2009. Due to Morrissey's acting commitments, editing and other post-production work delayed the film's release.Morrissey, David. Interview with Mark Lawson. Front Row. BBC Radio 4. London. 27 November 2008. It premiered at the 53rd London Film Festival.Staff (9 September 2009). "London Film Festival boosts awards for 53rd edition". Screen International (Emap Media). After the screening, a distribution deal was signed with the BBC for the film to be shown on television.Miles, Tina (7 November 2009). "Actor David Morrissey returns home for screening of his directorial debut". Liverpool Echo (Trinity Mirror). The film was broadcast on BBC Two on 7 March 2010, and was released on DVD the next day.Morrissey, David. Television interview with Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley. The One Show. BBC One. 25 February 2010.
References
External links Reviews Malcolm Rock, "The Pool - City of Culture?", Whatsonstage.com. Dominic Cavendish, "Memories to paint the town purple", The Daily Telegraph. Fiona Mountford, "The Pool - City of Culture?", Evening Standard.
Film