The Terribly Credible Definitely Edible Tale of the Town of Cropshire

“If you don’t like the rules, just leave!” 

Welcome to Cropshire, an absurd world of welly-wearing farmers, perpetually confused politicians, weather reports, and celebrity brand deals. The politicians at the helm of the slow, excessively bureaucratic Cropshire government face a difficult decision: how to address the soaring price of carrots. They put their heads together and decide the most economical solution is to ban them entirely. As chaos ensues, the disgruntled townspeople are looking for someone to blame; luckily, one charismatic Cropshire citizen steps up to the plate to help them figure out exactly where to point the finger.

“The Terribly Credible Definitely Edible Tale of the Town of Cropshire” is an absurdist, metatheatrical fable about how populists seize and maintain power. Combining slapstick with an interrogation of political rhetoric to deliver biting satire, the show dissects the ways that bureaucracy and the language of crisis are weaponized to control communities.

This production marks the debut of Diagnostic Trouble Code, a new international theatre company creating bold, political and playful ensemble performances. Through a creative lens, our work aims to diagnose the troubles of society and incite dialogue and reflection on today’s urgent questions. The collective brings together theatre makers from across the world, including Mexico, Colombia, Cuba, France, Taiwan, the Netherlands, USA and UK. Our shows combine physical theatre, dance, and original text to build vibrant theatrical worlds by uniting the interdisciplinary talents of the group. 

This show was selected by Camden People’s Theatre (London) for their Autumn ’25 TEST MATCH support scheme.