Award-winning theatre company Fifth Word announces 2026’s first-ever Pop-Up Play productions from East-Midlands playwrights John Booker and Tabby Lamb. Based in the East-Midlands, Fifth Word tour and commission powerful, bold and accessible plays that amplify underrepresented voices. Pop-Up Plays exemplify these values with the two new plays commissioned: Tabby Lamb’s TRANS IT, directed by Bryony Shanahan (Bloody Elle, Royal Exchange Manchester, Traverse Theatre, West End; Keli, National Theatre of Scotland; Bitch Boxer, UK Tour; Standing in the Shadows of Giants, Traverse Edinburgh) and John Booker’s debut LAD, directed by Daniel Bailey (Red Pitch, Bush Theatre, West End and Washington DC; Wolves on Road; August in England, Bush Theatre, co-directed with Lynette Linton; Blue Orange, Birmingham Rep). Both world premieres will be produced from ‘seed to stage’ in a year, coming, site-specific, to car parks, pubs and social clubs, in association with Leicester Curve and Derby Theatre in Spring 2026.
Pop-Up Plays are key to Fifth Word’s practical response to the sharp decline in the production of new plays at the studio and mid-scale as highlighted in the British Theatre Consortium’s recent ‘Before and After Covid’ report.
Tabby Lamb is a leading trans writer and performer on the British Theatre scene, originally from the Midlands. She was the winner of a Fringe First Award in 2022, which celebrates the best new writing at the Edinburgh Fringe, for Happy Meal.
“To silence a monster, you just have to undo him”
In the not-so-distant future, where gender is actively policed, two trans women must keep their identities hidden from the DBI (the Division of Biological Integrity).
TRANS IT brings audiences to a car park where they find our girls darting in and out of the back of a van, having captured a politician. This trans horror story watches the girls decide the fate of their captive, comparing his fate to those of the Greek Gods, and their mortals.
In TRANS IT, Lamb tackles transphobia head on, as she tips, Greek tragedy style, into a world in which revenge is sought bloody and cold.
John Booker is a new writer, born in Coventry and raised in Derby, whose first script BWOY DEM won the 2021 Take Off competition with In Good Company and had a rehearsed reading at Derby Theatre. He is currently under commission to The Bush, Paines Plough, Middle Child & Derby Theatre and is a member of the Royal Court Writer’s Group. LAD is John’s debut production.
“I just wanna have a chat with you to be honest, Luke.”
England vs. Spain, Euro 2024 Final. Jack’s back from Uni, Luke’s back from doing time.
The two men speak openly about everything men have been told they should bury deep down – how they feel, their working class conditioning, the expectations lumped on them from very small boys who must at all costs, be ‘boys’. Booker brings us home, to the pub, with these two boys – turned men – whose decisions as very young adults, will set the course of the rest of their lives. Can you be kind to the person you disagree with?
Together, TRANS IT and LAD shine a light on what it costs to be yourself in a country that keeps telling you who you’re allowed to be. Both plays confront identity, belonging, and the pressure to perform versions of ourselves that just don’t fit. Raw and intimate, they explore friendship, fear, and the fight to stay human in a Britain increasingly defined by division.
Laura Ford, Artistic Director of Fifth Word says:
“Pop-Up Plays is an ambitious response, created to get new writing in front of audiences at a time when opportunities for playwrights are shrinking. From our open call to East Midlands writers, and invitation to respond to the provocation of connection, Tabby and John’s ideas stood out instantly—bold, rooted in the region, and perfect for meeting audiences in unexpected places, whether in a car park at night or a vibrant Midlands pub. In addition to these two productions, the programme has supported three further writers through R&D and commissioned a third Pop-Up Play for the future, extending our commitment to developing new voices and creating concrete pathways to production. We’re delighted to be working with Curve and Derby Theatre to share these stories directly with the communities they speak to. Each play offers a bold, surprising theatrical experience that feels unmistakably of this moment”.
On LAD, playwright John Booker says:
“I want to explore the lad culture that I’ve grown up with and how it impacts society. Men, and particularly young men, often lack connection in their lives. This is true no matter what class you are, but it is especially pervasive in those of us from a working-class background. Cultural expectations and masculinity norms – “Don’t cry and don’t show weakness” – lead to young men growing up without being taught how to build deep emotional bonds.
I’ve seen first-hand the ripple effects of an absence of connection in the lives of the people I grew up with. The lack of safe spaces for men to talk about loneliness, anxiety and personal struggles, plus the all-consuming nature of social media and digital life, gives the illusion of society, but you’re never truly seen. Being of mixed-race heritage, I know it is that much harder to find those spaces to discuss feelings of isolation and not being understood. There’s a deepening divide and I wrote this play to create a second chance for the forgotten men“.
On TRANS IT, playwright Tabby Lamb says:
“TRANS IT is angry, funny, queasy, and tender. It’s a play about trans women, and it’s also a play for anyone who’s ever been othered, silenced, or shut out of the systems meant to protect them. It’s camp revenge with a conscience — and it’s coming to a car park near you.
Right now, the trans community is under siege. In larger cities, there are hubs of resistance, spaces where we can gather to grieve, rage, and process. In places like the East Midlands, those spaces are fewer, and the sense of isolation greater. TRANS IT aims to change that. It is an act of protest, an offering, and an invitation to collectively mourn, scream, laugh, and heal. We’re not asking you to come to the theatre—we’re bringing the theatre to you.”
On Pop-Up Plays, Cara Nolan, Associate Director at Curve, Leicester says:
“There’s an abundance of incredible talent and stories to be shared in the East Midlands and we’re proud to be collaborating with Fifth Word on POP-UP PLAYS. Not only are LAD and TRANS IT completely new pieces from two seriously talented local playwrights, they’re also going to be performed in unique locations around Curve and the city, making for a thrilling experience for audiences. It’s vital we support artists in our region, develop work and share new stories, pushing artistic boundaries and deepening cultural access across the city.”
On Pop-Up Plays, Sarah Brigham, Artistic Director of Derby Theatre says:
“Working with Fifth Word on Pop-Up Plays feels like a natural extension of our shared belief that theatre must meet people where they are. Fifth Word has a long history with Derby Theatre, and this project captures exactly why: it’s bold, rooted in community, and unafraid to champion stories that are routinely pushed to the margins. Bringing fresh ideas into surprising Derby locations isn’t just exciting — it’s essential. We’re proud to stand alongside Fifth Word as this ambitious project takes shape.”
On TRANS IT, Jesse Donn, Executive Producer at Just Something Different says:
“Having been a long term admirer and collaborator of Tabby’s I am beyond excited to be working with wonderful Fifth Word on the world premiere of this cutting edge piece and cannot wait to bring it to the largest possible audience in this iteration and in the future”
Union Jack bunting hangs in tatters and the stakes are high as culture wars, engineered hatred and a lack of nuance leave so many British people teetering on a tightrope – Fifth Word presents two new plays from two astonishingly honest playwrights that ask, ‘what next?’, reflecting on a Britain where the most at risk are under attack and the forces of polarisation threaten to rip the very fabric of our society.
Find Out More
About Fifth Word
Fifth Word is a touring theatre company based in the East Midlands specialising innovative, relevant new writing for younger audiences (16-30). Recent productions include: LIBERATION SQUARES by Sonali Bhattacharyya (★★★★ The Stage) directed by Milli Bhattia, WE NEED NEW NAMES, adapted by Mufaro Makubika from NoViolet Bulawayo’s Booker Prize-shortlisted novel (★★★★ The Guardian) directed by Monique Tuoko, and LAVA (★★★★ The Stage) by James Fritz, co-directed by Laura Ford and Angharad Jones.
Alongside productions, Fifth Word delivers creative engagement projects co-designed with local partners and participants, empowering people to tell their own stories and build confidence through theatre-making, writing and performance. These projects foster creativity, community cohesion and pride of place. In partnership with Nottinghamshire Archives & Mansfield Museum Fifth Word is currently delivering Our Story, training trans and gender diverse young people in oral history practice to gather testimonies from people who are trans & gender diverse creating a vital archive of voices in the region. [More info on Fifth Word here.]
About Tabby Lamb
Tabby Lamb is a trans writer-performer from the Midlands, now based in East London. Blending pop culture and politics with warmth and wit, her work is joyful, heartfelt, and rooted in queer lived experience. Her breakout queer rom-com HAPPY MEAL (Roots Touring) won a Fringe First at the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe and toured internationally. In 2023, she made history as the first trans woman to have work staged at Shakespeare’s Globe with A GRIEVANCE OF WITCHES. In 2025, Tabby created and hosted TRANS WICKED, a cabaret reimagining of Wicked featuring an all-trans cast. Her debut solo show SINCE U BEEN GONE (Gate Theatre / Edinburgh Fringe 2019) was praised by The Guardian as “bold, honest and swollen with love.” A BFI Flare × BAFTA Crew alum and recipient of the Sky Arts Bursary at Stratford East, Tabby continues to champion LGBTQ+ stories on stage and screen while facilitating creative projects for queer youth. Her work also includes HOW WE SWAM (National Youth Theatre), TUESDAY (Pegasus Theatre), and THE LAW OF MAYHEM (Proteus). [More about Tabby Lamb here]
About John Booker
John is a writer & actor, trained at The Royal Central School of Speech & Drama. His play ‘Bwoy Dem’ won the 2021 Take Off competition with In Good Company, Derby Theatre, Notts Playhouse & Arena Theatre. John has received commissions from
The Bush, Paines Plough, Middle Child & Derby Theatre. He has been longlisted for the BBC Writers Academy and shortlisted for the RSC’s 37 plays. Previously he was part of the Nottingham Playhouse Amplify writers and an associate artist at New Perspectives Theatre. He is currently a member of the Royal Court Writers’ Group.
About Daniel Bailey
Daniel is a director for stage and screen, a dramaturg, and a writer. He was formerly Associate Artistic Director at the Bush Theatre, London, having joined the team in 2019 alongside Artistic Director Lynette Linton. Prior to that he was Associate Director at Birmingham Rep Theatre, after initially joining as Assistant Director as part of the Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme and then working as Artistic Director of the New & Nurtured Season 2017–2018. He made his West End debut in 2024 with the award-winning RED PITCH, which he originally directed at the Bush (2022 and 2023), and for which he received The Stage Debut Award for Best Creative West End Debut. Other roles include Associate Artist at Theatre Royal Stratford East, Resident Director at the National Theatre Studio, Resident Assistant Director at The Finborough Theatre, and Artistic Director of New Heritage Theatre. Daniel reads for Talawa, Soho, the Verity Bargate, Bruntwood, and Birmingham Rep and Alfred Fagon Awards.
Other directing work at the Bush Theatre includes Beru Tessema’s WOLVES ON ROAD, Lenny Henry’s AUGUST IN ENGLAND (co-directed with Lynette Linton), and Temi Wilkey’s THE HIGH TABLE (Stage Debut Award winner 2020).
Other Directing credits include the US premiere of RED PITCH (Olney Theatre, Washington DC); THE BOY WITH WINGS adapted by Arvind Ethan David from the book by Lenny Henry (Polka Theatre); I WONDER IF (Young Vic Theatre); BLUE ORANGE; CONCUBINE; STUFF; I KNEW YOU; ABUELO, JUMP! WE’LL CATCH YOU; MADE IN INDIA/BRITAIN; and EXHALE (Birmingham Rep).
His film and TV director credits include: DROPPED (Mother’s Best Child/Channel 4), ON BELONGING (Young Vic), MALACHI (S.E.D), FLOATING ON CLOUDS (Kingdom Entertainment Group) and Y.O.L.O. Therapy (S.E.D).
About Bryony Shanahan
Bryony Shanahan is a freelance theatre director. Between 2019-2023 she was Joint Artistic Director of the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester.
Her directing credits for the Royal Exchange include: Bloody Elle, No Pay? No Way! Beginning, Let The Right One In, Nora: A Doll’s House, Wuthering Heights, Queens of the Coal Age, Weald, and Nothing. Bloody Elle transferred to the Traverse Theatre, Soho Theatre and the West End (Lyric).
Other directing credits: Beauty and the Beast (Northern Stage); Keli (National Theatre of Scotland); Trade (Young Vic); Standing in the Shadow of Giants, Enough (Traverse); Chicken Soup (Sheffield); Operation Crucible (59E59 NYC, Sheffield Crucible, UK Tour); Bitch Boxer (UK Tour).
About Derby Theatre
Bold and brilliant performances. Shows that represent our community. A platform for groundbreaking artists. A pathway for learners of all ages. A guaranteed great night out. We’re a theatre like no other.
We’re known for artistic excellence. We’re committed to education. And we believe that theatre can change your life.
Previously Derby Playhouse, we have a long and important theatrical history. As Derby Theatre, we work in partnership with the University of Derby. We produce new plays and projects, collaborate with artists and local people, and welcome higher education students and anyone who wants to learn. We are a charity and a National Portfolio organisation for Arts Council England, and we’re led by artistic director and CEO Sarah Brigham.
It’s really important to us that we make everyone feel welcome. So we set out to treat everybody with respect and care. That includes audiences, artists and learners who are new to theatre or who don’t usually feel like it’s for them.
Don’t just take our word for it – come and find out for yourself. More information here: www.derbytheatre.co.uk
About Curve
Curve is an award-winning producing theatre with a commitment to ensuring as many people as possible can access great art and culture. Each year, over two million people engage with Curve through performances in Leicester, across the UK and internationally. Under the leadership of Chief Executive Chris Stafford and Artistic Director Nikolai Foster, Curve has developed an international reputation for producing, presenting and touring a bold and diverse slate of musicals, plays, new work, and dance, which sits alongside a vibrant community and learning programme.
Recent Made at Curve productions and co-productions include: The Sound of Music; Aliens Love Panta Claus; Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf; Muriel’s Wedding; My Fair Lady; The Mountaintop; A Chorus Line; My Beautiful Laundrette; Evita; The Owl Who Came For Christmas; Billy Elliot The Musical; Ride; Finding Home – Leicester’s Ugandan Asian Story At 50; The Music Of Andrew Lloyd Webber; Giraffes Can’t Dance and West Side Story. Streamed productions include The Color Purple and Sunset Boulevard.
Recent Curve on Tour and West End productions include: Kinky Boots (UK and Ireland tour, European tour); A Chorus Line (Sadler’s Wells and UK Tour, Japan tour); The Wizard of Oz (London Palladium, UK and Ireland tour); Sister Act (Eventim Apollo, UK and Ireland tour); Grease (Dominion Theatre and UK tour); 42nd Street (Sadler’s Wells, UK tour and Toronto); White Christmas (Dominion Theatre and UK tour); On Your Feet! (London Coliseum and UK tour) and The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ – The Musical (The Ambassadors Theatre). An Officer and a Gentleman The Musical; Cat On A Hot Tin Roof; Metamorphosis; The Color Purple; Beautiful – The Carole King Musical; Sunset Boulevard (UK and Ireland tours) and The Jungle Book (UK and International tour).
Curve is supported using public funding by principal funder Arts Council England.
About Just Something Different
Just Something Different produce nuanced and radical Trans & Queer stories that demand to be told live. We’re a production company creating spaces where narratives can empower, thrive and inspire audiences and artists alike. Just Something Different is led by Jesse Donn, an independent producer based in Manchester. Created out of a passion for discovering brave new writers and tackling exciting interdisciplinary work, the organisation exists to find experiences that involve audiences and celebrate Queer and Trans joy from the get-go. Recent productions include DEAR YOUNG MONSTER by Pete MacHale and directed by Sammy Glover (Best Studio Production WhatsOnStage 2024 Nominee, ★★★★★ LouReviews, ★★★★ Broadway World).
About Fuel
Fuel was founded in 2004 and is led by Kate McGrath. Since its story began, Fuel has produced shows, festivals, films, installations, podcasts, apps and books. In doing so, Fuel has supported the artistic development of over 120 lead artists or companies and reached more than 1.5 million people, live and digitally, hosted over a hundred internships and been recognised with awards for its work.
About Arts Council England
Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture. Our vision, set out in our strategy Let’s Create, is that by 2030, we want England to be a country in which the creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to flourish, and where every one of us has access to a remarkable range of high-quality cultural experiences. Between 2023 and 2026 we will have invested over £467 million of public money from Government, alongside an estimated £250 million each year from The National Lottery, to help ensure that people in every part of the country have access to culture and creativity in the places where they live.