Theatre Royal Plymouth’s debut Armed Forces Comedy Night proved a hit last week, bringing together service personnel, veterans, and comedy fans for an evening of laughter, courage, and community.
Held on Friday 7 November in The Lab at TRP, the special event marked the finale of a one-day workshop that gave ten members of the Armed Forces community the chance to try their hand at stand-up comedy.
Under the guidance of professional comics, participants spent the day learning the craft of storytelling, timing, and delivery before taking to the stage in front of a packed crowd of more than 50 people.
South West comics lead the laughs
The night was headlined by three of the South West’s finest comedians, Suzy Bennett, David Arnold, and Ben Treloar, who shared the stage with Armed Forces participants performing their own original material.
In one unforgettable moment, a workshop participant delivered an impromptu open mic routine that left the audience in stitches.
“It was incredible to see members of the Armed Forces on stage, giving it a go,” said one audience member. “I haven’t laughed that much in ages, what an amazing night!”
Another added:
“The energy in the room was electric; we’d love to see more events like this.”
Celebrating confidence and creativity
The pilot event was developed through TRP’s Our Space programme which is funded by The Veterans’ Foundation and is part of ongoing efforts to celebrate and amplify the voices of the Armed Forces community through creativity and performance.
Becky Ormrod, Programme Manager for Our Space, said:
“This event was about more than just comedy; it was about confidence, connection and community. The courage shown by our participants, and the warmth of the audience, made it a truly special evening.”
More to come in 2026
Following the success of the inaugural comedy night, Theatre Royal Plymouth plans to expand its Armed Forces comedy workshops and showcases in 2026.
Anyone interested in taking part or attending future events can contact the Our Space team at ourspace@theatreroyal.com
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