Leonard Barras

Wallsend writer Leonard Barras combined a working life as a clerk at Swan Hunter with books, plays and comic writing. He was publicity-shy, but his imagination was anything but restrained: familiar local speech and settings became the starting points for surreal tales.

His work included newspaper columns and scripts for radio and television. Plays such as A Little Stiff Built Chap and The Shy Gasman brought that distinctive humour to the stage. His unusual comic world offers plenty for new readers and audiences to discover.