Thomas Sainsbury (born 1982) 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.
Sainsbury's acting career has also taken off. He describes himself as self-taught, having learnt his skills watching and imitating. After small parts in Super City and sketch show Jono and Ben, he was invited across the Tasman to play Sam the scarfie in comedic duo Hamish and Andy's 2017 show True Story. That year his "dream came true" when he was asked to join Shortland Street as 'stalker dude' Jason Kirkpatrick. Although the part was "meant to be dangerous", Sainsbury's natural comedic skills shone through. He plays one of the teachers in comedic web series Educators, and acted in hit show Wellington Paranormal. Sainsbury joined the writing team for the show in season four, picking up a nomination for Best Comedy Script at the 2022 NZTV Awards. He has contributed to both the writing team and cast of several shows throughout his career.
In 2016 Sainsbury was offered his first movie role, as Bongo in Pork Pie, director Matt Murphy's remake of hit film Goodbye Pork Pie. In 2018 he moved into a bigger role, as a calculating "paranormal blogger and alientologist" in sci-fi comedy Alien Addiction. He co-starred alongside Kiwi internet comedian Jimi Jackson. Sainsbury also co-starred in (and co-wrote) zombie comedy Dead, working with Hayden J Weal. Sainsbury played a stoner who can see ghosts, who helps a recently deceased police officer (Weal) catch a serial killer.
