Just announced: Ordinary Decent Criminal

A co-production between Paines Plough, Live Theatre, Theatre Royal Plymouth and Ellie Keel Productions in association with Synergy Theatre Project.

Following the success of his acclaimed plays The Political History of Smack and Crack and England & Son, is Ed Edwards with his new play Ordinary Decent Criminal. Edwards reunites with political comedian and actor Mark Thomas, who will play recovering addict Frankie as he enters the brave new world of a liberal prison experiment. Ordinary Decent Criminal previews at Live Theatre Newcastle, with further tour dates to be announced. 

Synergy Theatre Project supported Ed as an ex-prisoner writer with a reading of The Political History of Smack and Crack as part of our Homecomings mini-season of new plays by ex-prisoners at Theatre503 in 2017. We’re really proud to be associated with his latest play.

Paines Plough joint Artistic Directors, Katie Posner and Charlotte Bennett commented: 

‘It’s a joy to reunite with writer Ed Edwards and legendary comedian Mark Thomas after their sell-out Roundabout hit ‘England & Son’, to bring a brand new decades-spanning story of prison and revolution to venues across the country, told in Mark’s inimitable style. We can’t wait to get started and to tell you more.’

Set in the years following the Strangeways Prison Riot, meet recovering addict Frankie, played by renowned political comedian Mark Thomas as he enters the brave new world of a liberal prison experiment.

None of Frankie’s fellow convicts are what they seem. In the most unexpected of places he discovers that the revolution is not dead, it’s just sleeping.

A brand new play from the writer of the Fringe First winning England & Son and A Political History of Smack & Crack, Ed Edwards reunites with Mark Thomas to tell a tale of freedom, revolution and messy love.

Ed Edwards is an ex-offender and multi-award winning playwright.

Mark Thomas is a comedian who has been performing for 35 years. How to describe his work? A mix of standup, theatre, journalism and the odd bout of performance art. He has won eight awards for performing, three for human rights work and one he invented for himself.