Robert Emmet Lunney and Jan Maxwell co-founded the Barker Project, which celebrates the work of contemporary British playwright Howard Barker. The reading of his teleplay is presented free to the public as part of the global 21 for 21 festival celebrating the playwright's work.

Joining Mays (I Am My Own Wife, Pygmalion) will be Peter Bradbury, Harris Doran, Dashiell Eaves, Susan Lyons, Colin McPhillamy, Willie Orbison, Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki and Robert Zukerman.

Pity in History, first presented by the BBC in 1985, is an ensemble drama set in 1644 during the English civil war. Alan Rickman starred in the BBC broadcast.

Barker's plays also include Fair Slaughter, The Castle, No End of Blame, The Love of a Good Man, Judith, The Europeans, The Hang of the Gaol, The Seven Lears, That Good Between Us, The Possibilities, Scenes from an Execution, The Power of the Dog and Victory.