Shoddy?...What is Shoddy?

Shoddy
/ˈʃɒdi/
adjective
adjective: shoddy; comparative: shoddier; superlative: shoddiest
badly made or done.
1. “we’re not paying good money for shoddy goods”
noun
noun: Shoddy;
1. Shoddy Theatre, a “laugh out loud” comedy group

A Shoddy, Brief History

Shoddy Theatre began in 2018 when a group of East 15 Acting School graduates were tasked with devising their own play for a final assessment. Choosing to create a slapstick, multi-rolling comedy inspired by classic British and American farces, they premiered The Art of Deception, a manor house whodunnit that quickly became a hit with audiences. Its success earned the troupe the Essex University Graduate Grant, enabling them to establish themselves as a professional company and to develop the show further.

That first show evolved into A Shoddy Detective, which has since toured the UK and sold out runs at the Camden Fringe, New Normal Festival, Edinburgh Fringe, and multiple national tours, most recently in 2025.

Building on from the success Shoddy began creating two more productions, A Shoddy Christmas Carol, which will run for 5 weeks at slapstick circus-inspired in December 2025, before touring across the country in 2026 and the highly anticipated slapstick circus-inspired show A Shoddy Lamplighter, which will debut at The Edinburgh Fringe in 2026.

In addition to their comedy work, Shoddy produced the acclaimed play The Olive Boy which toured the UK in 2024, directed by Mitch Donaldson, which went on to win an Offie Award for Best Creation in 2025. More information can be found via the website: http://theoliveboy.co.uk