David Peace donates Damned United rights to Red Ladder

Bestselling author David Peace has lent his support to the theatre company Red Ladder by donating the theatrical rights to his best-selling book The Damned United.

Peace, who was previously a member of the company's writing group, charged a notional £3.68 for the rights, representing the 368 pages of the book.

The Damned United, which charts Brian Clough's ill-fated tenure as manager of Leeds in 1974, has also been made into a 2009 film, which was directed by Tom Hooper (Les Miserables) and starred Michael Sheen.

Now Red Ladder own the theatrical rights, money they raise as part of the 'Save Red Ladder' campaign will be spent on the stage adaptation.

Peace said: "For me, after all the inspiration and support I got from Red Ladder, particularly with the Red Writers Group while I was back in the UK from 2009 and 2011, and all the enthusiasm and interest [director and producer] Rod Dixon and Chris Lloyd have shown in my work… offering the theatrical rights for The Damned United for the minimum amount possible was the very least I could do to try, even in a such a small way, to help Save Red Ladder."

Red Ladder will also be offering a 'piece of the play' to every person who sets up a direct debit from today (14 October) to the end of the fundraising campaign.

Others to back the campaign, which was launched following the loss of the company's arts funding in July, include Monty Python's Terry Jones.