Are you a local writer or theatre maker — or someone eager to become one?

Join Theatre Royal Plymouth and Paines Plough for our next FUSE Gathering, focussed on playwrighting. This is an opportunity to connect and meet with a community of storytellers, performers, and makers who are passionate about bringing bold, original work to life.

This gathering comes before a performance of Ordinary Decent Criminal, 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.

About Ordinary Decent Criminal

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.

About Paines Plough
Founded in 1974, we have worked with over 300 outstanding British playwrights including James Graham, Sarah Kane, Dennis Kelly, Abi Morgan, Mike Bartlett, Sam Steiner, Elinor Cook, Vinay Patel, Zia Ahmed and Kae Tempest. Our plays are nationally discovered and locally heard.

As a touring theatre company dedicated to new writing, we discover, develop and empower writers across the country and share their explosive new stories with audiences all over the UK and beyond.

FUSE, a strand of TRP’s Artist Development work, is proud to offer free opportunities for artists to connect with each other. Including, access to rehearsal space, workshops, and opportunities to engage with the art across our stages. To find out more, please visit our Artist Development page.