

Ordinary Decent Criminal
A tale of freedom, revolution and messy love, written by Ed Edwards and starring renowned political comedian Mark Thomas.
£17
The McCarthy
1h 10m (no interval)
About
Meet recovering addict Frankie, played by renowned political comedian Mark Thomas.
Frankie’s just been sentenced to three and a half years in jail for dealing drugs. When he gets there, none of his fellow convicts are what they seem.
And with his typewriter, his activist soul, and his sore lack of a right hook, he somehow finds his way into their troubled hearts, and they into his.
In the unlikeliest 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. Directed by Paines Plough's Joint Artistic Director, Charlotte Bennett.
You'll recognise Mark Thomas from his long running Channel 4 show The Mark Thomas Comedy Product and BBC Radio 4's The Manifesto - he also toured to the SJT in Ed Edwards' play England & Son in 2023.
Ordinary Decent Criminal is produced by Paines Plough, a theatre company touring the best new plays for the last 50 years. They've previously toured to the SJT with Every Brilliant Thing and Broken Biscuits.
Age guidance: 16+
Reviews:
★ ★ ★ ★ "Thomas jumps adeptly from terrorist to drug lord in writer Ed Edwards’s gripping and subtle one-man show." The Guardian
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "It’s a story that grips you from first to last, offering characters to care for and a life story shaded with hair-raising drama, comedy shaded from grey to gallows, and underpinned by a fundamental belief in the power of rebellion." The Quintessential Review
★ ★ ★ ★ "Edwards’ writing crackles with urgency, and Thomas’ performance is nothing short of electric." Theatre Tonic
"Immensely watchable." The Stage
Cast
Mark Thomas
Credits
A co-production between Paines Plough, Live Theatre, Theatre Royal Plymouth and Ellie Keel Productions in association with Synergy Theatre Project
Written by Ed Edwards
Directed by Charlotte Bennett
Lighting Designer: Drummond Orr
Sound Designer: Elena Peña
Company Stage Manager: Tine Selby
Dates & Tickets
FAQ's
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