Mark Thomas returns to Lakeside in a one-man play by Fringe First winner Ed Edwards. Telling the tale of Frankie, a writer and drug dealer with a history in political activism, who is serving his first prison sentence. A terrifying prospect, considering his ‘lack of a right hook’...
On a stark stage, with only crash barriers and a prison loo, Mark Thomas, is dressed simply in a tracksuit and tee shirt, to deliver not only Frankie's story, but the tale of the 1990’s. The troubles in Ireland and prison riots, the falling of the Belin wall and Thatcherism. All succinctly recounted in a way that becomes inescapably pertinent to our current climate.
Using accents and demeanour, Thomas embodies the people that Frankie meets on the prison wing. Each carefully crafted to hold an amalgamation of likely archetypes, whilst avoiding any tip into caricature. The vulnerable and violent Kenny, Belfast Tony a maybe IRA man, Bron the ex-soldier with PTSD and De Niro, the prison gangster whose deals undercut their time inside. As the stories unfold, we see their humanity and not all of it is good. Frankies reaction to each of them holds the narrative of this play as he remains centre stage, while Kennys’ choices and Frankies’ relationship with his absent partner Josie, elevates the production, delivering a raw and complex empathy that spreads across the characters and the plot.
inherited violence, colonialism and toxic masculinity
Based on his own experience in prison and his journey to political writing and activism, this is the second play that Ed Edwards has written for Mark Thomas. The first being the award-winning England and Sons that hit on inherited violence, colonialism and toxic masculinity. It came to Lakeside Arts in 2023. Ordinary Decent Criminal is directed by Paines Plough’s Joint Artistic Director, Charlotte Bennett and whilst the historical context is equally recounted from a left-wing perspective, it felt less obvious in its themes and better for that. It is a testament to Edwards’ writing and Thomas’ acting that the substantive metaphor is gently held. Stories of personal abuse are offered up against our own reactions to power and injustice, as we were asked to consider the question of what it means to be free.
I interviewed Mark Thomas for Left Lion back in September, where he said of Ordinary Decent Criminal “I want people to look at ideas in a different way”. In this perfectly formed one act play, he has certainly delivered.
Ordinary Decent Criminal appeared at Lakeside Arts on Thursday 20 November 2025.
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