Mark Thomas in England & Son

“A nation that devours another will one day devour itself”.

Set when The Great Devouring comes home, England & Son is a one-man play written specifically for the award-winning political comedian Mark Thomas by award-winning playwright Ed Edwards (The Political History of Smack and Crack, Paines Plough’s Roundabout, Soho and UK tour).

This is the first play Mark has ever performed in that he has not written himself.

With some deep, dark laughs – and some deep, dark love – along the way, England & Son emerges from characters Mark knew in his childhood and Ed’s lived experience in jail. Prepare for Mark to take you on a kaleidoscopic odyssey where disaster capitalism, empire, stolen youth and stolen wealth merge into the simple tale of a working-class boy who just wants his dad to smile at him.

Production shot on Mark Thomas in England & Son. He is looking downwards (so some of his face is obscured), and has one arm raised with an open palm, and has his fingers clenched on the other hand.

Winner – Fringe First 2023
Winner – Lustrum Award Winner 2023 for unforgettable festival shows
Winner – WOW (Entertainment Now) Edinburgh Festival Week 1 Best Theatre Show
Winner – Holden Street Theatres’ Award Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2023
Winner – Entertainment Now Award for Outstanding Theatre

‘a brilliant piece of political theatre… at its most entertaining, engaging and effective’ (Morning Star Online)

‘a searing one-hander that burns on long after the audience has vacated their seats’ (Fest Mag)

‘Tremendous energy and real pathos… a tremendous performance from Mark Thomas’ (The Stage)

‘fierce and sharp… profound and moving. A triumph for all concerned’ (WhatsOnStage)

‘heartbreakingly powerful, sharp and tragic… he remains one of the great performer-storytellers of our time’ (The Scotsman)

Age: 14+

Contains references to violence and drug use.