Press Contact: Natalie Thomas
November 2025
Theatre Royal Plymouth (TRP) hosted its first Armed Forces Comedy Night on Friday 07 November, using laughter to celebrate creativity and community within the Armed Forces.
The event marked the culmination of a one-day comedy workshop, where ten members of the Armed Forces community explored the art of stand-up comedy under the guidance of professional comedians. The evening then brought together more than 50 audience members in The Lab at TRP for a night of laughter and connection.
Headlined by three of the South West’s finest comedians, Suzy Bennett, David Arnold, and Ben Treloar, the show combined professional performances with a dedicated section for Armed Forces participants who wished to share their own original material on stage.
In a standout moment, one workshop participant took to the microphone for an impromptu open mic performance that had the audience in stitches.
One audience member said: “It was incredible to see members of the Armed Forces on stage, giving it a go. I haven’t laughed that much in ages, what an amazing night!”
Another said: “The energy in the room was electric; we’d love to see more events like this.”
The pilot event was developed through TRP’s Our Space programme which is funded by The Veterans’ Foundation and is part of ongoing efforts to celebrate and amplify the voices of the Armed Forces community through creativity and performance.
Becky Ormrod, Our Space Programme Manager, said: “This event was about more than just comedy; it was about confidence, connection and community. The courage shown by our participants, and the warmth of the audience, made it a truly special evening.”
Following the success of this inaugural event, Theatre Royal Plymouth is keen to explore further Armed Forces Comedy workshops and showcases in 2026. Those interested in future workshops or attending comedy nights are encouraged to get in touch with the Our Space team via ourspace@theatreroyal.com.