Thomas Sainsbury

Thomas Sainsbury is one of New Zealand's most popular and prolific playwrights, gaining considerable attention and praise in the past few years for productions of his dark comedies in New Zealand, USA, Australia and London.

Born in Matamata, he moved to Auckland to do a BA at the university there. After choosing English Literature and Theatre as his major, he has been involved as a writer, director and performer for both university productions and the underground theatre scene.

After graduating he formed the theatre company Fingerprints and Teeth Productions. With this company he wrote and directed more than 40 plays, including: Sunday Roast, LUV, The Mall, Loser, The Christmas Monologues, The Somnambulist and Crims. He has previously been selected three times for Playmarket's New Zealand Young Playwrights Competition. The Mall, Loser and The Christmas Monologues have been published by The Play Press (NZ). Thomas's TV show, the observational comedy SUPER CITY, has been nominated for 3 Aotearoa TV & Film Awards, including Best Series and Best Writing.