Ed Edwards

Ed Edwards is an ex-offender and multi-award-winning playwright. Ed wrote his first novel while awaiting trial on drugs charges. The novel was published the day he was sentenced to three-and-a half-years in jail, so his second novel (published by Fourth Estate) was written inside.  

Clean and sober ever since, Ed went on to write for Brookside, The Bill and Holby City and write original plays for BBC Radio 4. Ed currently teaches part-time at the University of Greater Manchester and writes for theatre. Ed’s play The Political History of Smack and Crack was a finalist at the Theatre503 Playwriting competition, appearing at Paines Plough’s Roundabout at Edinburgh Fringe and went on to tour nationally.  

His last play, England & Son – written specifically for the comedian and activist Mark Thomas – also performed at Roundabout and won multiple awards, including a Fringe First and an Offie then transferred to Adelaide Theatre festival, where it also won Best Theatre award. 

Ed is currently Writer on Attachment at the National Theatre.