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Penned Up 2025 UK Tour

Penned Up

Can words be the greatest escape?

Welcome to HMP Ditchfield, where each week a group of prisoners are tasked with writing their own plays. From boxing rings to the Brazilian rainforest, from tragic pasts to wildly imaginative futures, these men learn that theatre is more than words on a page-it’s a way to reclaim their voices. But as creativity collides with authority, tensions rise, secrets unravel, and laughter turns to rebellion.

Witty, raw, and full of heart, Penned Up is a powerful celebration of storytelling, second chances, and the unexpected bonds that form behind bars.

Written by award winning playwright Danusia Iwaszko, who uses her more than 15 years' experience of teaching playwriting to prisoners to explore what life is actually like behind bars.

Think Porridge meets Brassed Off-both a laugh riot and a gut-punch.

Supported by Arts Council England, Suffolk County Council, Suffolk Community Foundation, Synergy Theatre Project, The Drapers’ Company, Menagerie, St Giles

Penned Up Tour Dates

Bury St Edmunds Theatre Royal

Wednesday 10th September - Thursday 11th September

Theatre Royal, Westgate St, Bury Saint Edmunds IP33 1QR

Stahl Theatre

Friday 12th September

Stahl Theatre, Oundle, Peterborough, PE8 4EJ

Greenwich Theatre

Saturday 13th September

Greenwich Theatre, Crooms Hill, London SE10 8ES

The New Wolsey Theatre

Tuesday 16th September - Wednesday 17th September

​New Wolsey Theatre, Civic Dr, Ipswich IP1 2AS

The Garage Norwich

Thursday 18th September -

Friday 19th September

The Garage, 14 Chapel Field North, Norwich, Norfolk, NR2 1NY

Sudbury Quay Theatre

Saturday 20th September

Quay House, 6 Quay Ln, Sudbury CO10 2AN

The Theatre Chipping Norton

Monday 22nd September

The Theatre Chipping Norton, 2 Spring St, Chipping Norton OX7 5NL

Chelmsford Theatre Studio

Tuesday 23rd September

Chelmsford Theatre Studio, Fairfield Road, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1JG

Trinity Theatre

Wednesday 24th September

Trinity Theatre, Church Rd, Royal Tunbridge Wells TN1 1JP

Pavilion Arts Centre

Thursday 25th September - 

Friday 26th September

Pavilion Arts Centre, St John's Rd, Buxton,
SK17 6BE

The Grand Theatre

Monday 29th September

The Grand Theatre, 33 Church St, Blackpool FY1 1HT

Southmill Arts Centre

Wednesday 1st October

Southmill Arts Centre, 1-3 South Rd, Bishop's Stortford CM23 3JG

The Alexander Centre

Friday 3rd October

The Alexander Centre, 17 Preston St, Faversham, ME13 8NZ

Arcola Theatre

Monday 6th October -

Saturday 11th October

Arcola Theatre, 24 Ashwin St, London, E8 3DL

Our Supporters

Arts Council England

Suffolk County Council

Suffolk Community Foundation

Synergy Theatre Project

The Drapers’ Company

Menagerie, St Giles

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