Comedian and activist Mark Thomas talks Ordinary Decent Criminal

Ordinary Decent Criminal, written by Ed Edwards, is on its way to Lakeside in November, with you in centre-stage, what can you tell us about it?
One of the things about Ed’s writing is how it defies description. Essentially, it’s a story about a bloke who was an activist, becomes a drug dealer, goes to jail and discovers activism. Having said that, the play is about a whole range of things as his writing always is. It’s the second play that Ed has written for me, the first being England and Sons, which was also a one man show.  He has a very active style so I’m having to switch characters quickly and reestablish moods and scenes which as a performer is a real delight. We have the kind of relationship where it becomes a collaborative process that is very intense and there’s no filter between us. It’s one of the great things that theatre does, it brings people from different disciplines together, working for a common good. 

It sounds as if the play is about a political awakening or reawakening. Here in Nottingham, we have a long history of activism, from cheese riots to the burning down of our castle. How do you think this play may fit with current debates around protest?

I think it expands how we talk about what is happening in the world, the areas we can debate. What I mean by that is, how it looks at certain issues and pushes back on the parameters of where the debate may be. A lot of people who have seen it say it is very much a play of the moment because at its core it is about the struggle between keeping your head down and going ‘we can’t have this’. I’ve just finished approving a document for the judicial review being brought against the Home Secretary regarding the proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist group and whilst I sometimes have the feeling that I’m knackered by everything, for me this is one of those things where you go we need to do something about it. The play hits some of these notes.

Nottingham has a local prison not far from its centre which holds stories that rarely make it outside of its walls. I’m wondering how a play like Ordinary Decent Criminal gets to be seen by the people it is talking about?

We took Ed’s last play, England and Son, into HMP Greenock in Scotland which was really exciting. One of the guys we spent time with in there, talking about his writing, turned up to see Ordinary Decent Criminal and it was great to see him in the audience. What’s interesting about Edinburgh is that you get this very young crowd who are responsive to the ideas in the play of how you navigate life in confined spaces, the compromises and the deals you make, the challenges you encounter. There are always bigger political ideas, and they seemed willing to grasp with them. The thing about prison is that it removes any sense of control that people have, and no one cares. When we performed in prison, one guy said that it was the first time he’d been treated like an adult. For me the prison system is the pinnacle of thoughtlessness. I’m not a bleeding-heart liberal on this; I’m not saying that these people are angels but what I am saying is that you can’t put people in prison and say that they don’t matter.

The last time I saw you was in stand – up also at The Lakeside, in Gaffa Tapes. What struck me was how hopeful you were. I’m wondering if I heard you right? And if you still feel hopeful?

For me there’s a difference between hope and resistance. Hope can be misplaced but resistance will always be there. It’s what want because that’s how you build the feeling that change is within your grasp. Those moments are rare, but you need to have that fin of resistance. When you have constant lies, like ‘paracetamol causes autism’, which of course it doesn’t, and a right-wing framing of arguments you have no choice but to resist and challenge it. Rock against racism made racism really uncool and there's something wonderful about the cultural power of that. I feel that culturally we've got something to fight for and something to offer in terms of change. I happen to think that it’s popular movements that get things done and theatre and art can be part of that.

You're known for being an activist and a standup comedian, and now an actor, but you’re also directing Victoria Melody in Trouble, Struggle, Bubble And Squeak, also at Lakeside in November. How do they all fit together? What do you like doing best?

I like whatever I'm doing in the moment, and I chuck myself into it 100%. Vic (Victoria Melody) and I have worked on this for two years and the story’s done with Vic’s great aplomb. She gets it slightly wrong which I adore. We said that we were going to look at reenactment societies, in particular the diggers and the levellers within the English Civil war and Vic calls me and says ‘I’ve joined the wrong side’ which is so funny that it becomes part of the story. It’s all about finding resilience and community strength.

Is there anything else you want to tell me about Ordinary Decent Criminal?  

Before we went up to Edinburgh someone asked me how I wanted people to feel, and I said that I wanted them to feel as if they’ve been watching something way more exciting than theatre. I want them to be shocked, and surprised, as if they've been part of something where they look at ideas in a different way. I don’t want to give anything away, but just to say it’s a great show.

Ordinary Decent Criminal is on at Lakeside on November 20 2025. 

Mark Thomas is directing Victoria Melody in the comedy Trouble, Bubble and Squeak at Lakeside on November 13 2025.