Thomas Sainsbury (born 1982) is a New Zealand actor, writer, comedian and filmmaker.[1][2][3] Sainsbury began his acting and writing career in theatre. He became well known in New Zealand from 2017 for his short form comedy videos released on social media. As a screenwriter and performer he has contributed to many local television shows, including Wellington Paranormal, and feature films Pork Pie and Loop Track. With Madeline Sami he co-wrote Super City, which won the SWANZ Scriptwriters Best Comedy Script Award in 2011.[1][4]
Tom Sainsbury | |
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 Sainsbury in 2023 | |
| Born | Thomas Sainsbury 1982 (age 41–42) Matamata, New Zealand |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2005–present |
| Comedy career | |
| Medium |
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| Genres | |
Early life
editSainsbury was born in Matamata and is the youngest of three children.[5] He was raised on a dairy farm and attended Matamata College.[1][6] Sainsbury was encouraged in acting and drama by his parents, including at age 9, accompanying them to the Matamata Operatic Society rendition of Little Shop of Horrors. He was immediately inspired to write a sequel for his school assembly and thrived in the creative process of writing and performing it.[5]
In 2000, Sainsbury moved to Auckland to study for a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Auckland and decided on English literature and Theatre as his major. Throughout his studies, he wrote and produced plays in Auckland theatres including Silo Theatre and The Basement Theatre.[7][8]
Career
editTheatre
editAfter graduating from the University of Auckland in 2004, Sainsbury went on to become a prolific playwright in New Zealand. He has produced over 50 plays and several of them, including And Then You Die, The Christmas Monologues, The Mall, Loser, A Simple Procedure and Sunday Roast have been performed internationally.[5][9][10]
Sainsbury is a four-time winner of the Playmarket Young Playwright of the Year. He has also been a three-time finalist for the Bruce Mason Playwriting Award. His play The Canary won the Playmarket 2010 Special Prize for an Auckland Playwright.[9]
Film and television
editIn 2010, Sainsbury and Madeline Sami co-wrote Super City, a TV comedy series set in Auckland, New Zealand. It won the 2011 SWANZ Best Comedy Script award and was optioned by American network ABC in 2012.[1][9]
Sainsbury has written many New Zealand web series and comedy shows, including International Emmy Awards winner INSiDE.[1][9][11]
He has acted in screen work including the character Jason Kirkpatrick in Shortland Street.[1] In 2020, Sainsbury co-wrote and starred in the horror comedy feature film Dead.[12] He also starred in Pork Pie and appeared in local shows including Jono and Ben, 7 Days, Spinal Destination, Snack Masters, Have you been Paying Attention?, Give Us a Clue, Under the Vines, Educators, Taskmaster New Zealand and Wellington Paranormal.[13][3][14]
In 2023, Sainsbury released the feature film, Loop Track. He is the director, writer and lead actor of the film.[1]
In 2024, he appeared in The Rule of Jenny Pen.[15]
Comedian
editSainsbury has performed in New Zealand as a comic since 2014.[4]
As a comedian, he is best known for his short form comedy videos released on social media that satirise New Zealand politicians and parody New Zealand stereotypes and culture. Since 2017, some of his most popular videos are of politicians Paula Bennett, Simon Bridges and Jacinda Ardern.[16][17][18] He uses wigs, costumes and Snapchat face manipulation.
He has written, co-written and performed in multiple live comedy theatre shows including The Opening Night Before Christmas, Infectious, Camping, D.O.C.ing, Giggly Gerties, Dynamotion, Gays in Space, and Hauraki Horror. These productions often included other local comedians such as Kura Forrester, Brynley Stent and Chris Parker.[19][20][21]
In 2020, Sainsbury was awarded the New Zealand Herald's Entertainment Hero of the Year.[22] During the same year, he released a non-fiction book called New Zealanders: A Field Guide. The book is an extension of his Snapchat videos and provides detailed descriptions of his favourite Kiwi archetypes.[23][24]
In 2021 and 2022, he was the team captain (regular) on the TVNZ revival of the British game show Give Us a Clue and co-hosted Snack Masters.[25][26]
In 2023, Sainsbury was presented with the Rielly Comedy Award from the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand for his contribution to New Zealand entertainment.[27]
Sainsbury released a fictional comedy murder mystery podcast series called Small Town Scandal that was produced and distributed by New Zealand Media and Entertainment in 2023.[2][28] In 2024, Small Town Scandal was awarded ‘Podcast of the Year’ and ‘Best Comedy Podcast’ at the New Zealand Radio & Podcast Awards.[29]
Awards
edit- Playmarket Young Playwright of the Year – Four-time winner (2001), (2003), (2005) and (2007)[30]
- Bruce Mason Playwriting Award – Two-time Nominee (2008) and (2009)[31]
- Aotearoa Film and Television Awards (2011) – Nominated for Best Script – Drama/Comedy (with Madeleine Sami): for Super City[1]
- SWANZ Scriptwriters Awards (NZ Writers Guild) (2011) – Best Comedy Script (with Madeleine Sami): for Super City, episode three[1]
- Aotearoa Filmmaking Competition (48Hours) – Two-time National Winner (2016) and (2018)[1]
- Billy T Award, New Zealand Comedy Trust (2019) – Nominee[1]
- New Zealand Herald's Entertainment Hero of the Year (2020)[1]
- International Emmy (2021) for Best Short-Form Series for INSiDE (and was the only Australasian nominee of the awards)[32]
- Aotearoa Film and Television Awards (2022) Best Comedy Script: for Wellington Paranormal, series four, Episode four[1]
- Rielly Comedy Award, Variety Artists Club of New Zealand, 2023
- New Zealand Podcast Award (2023) – Best Fiction Podcast for Small Town Scandal[33]
- New Zealand Radio & Podcast Awards (2024) – Podcast of the Year and Best Comedy Podcast for Small Town Scandal[29]
Filmography
editTelevision
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Super City | Writer, Casting, Actor, Executive Producer |
| 2015–17 | Jono & Ben | Various – Sketch Comedy |
| 2016 | Filthy Rich | Actor – season II, 'Dylan Mayberry' |
| 2017 | True Story with Hamish and Andy | Actor – 'Sam' |
| 2017–18 | Shortland Street | Actor – 'Jason Kirkpatrick' |
| 2018–22 | Wellington Paranormal | Writer, Actor – season I – IV, 'Constable Parker' (recurring) |
| 2019 | The Bad Seed | Actor – 'Political Panelist' |
| Golden Boy | Actor – season I, 'Groundskeeper' (recurring) | |
| 2019–22 | Educators | Actor – season I – III, 'Rudy Beard' (core cast) |
| 2019–22 | Have You Been Paying Attention? | Self – Panelist (regular) |
| 2021–22 | 7 Days | Self – Panelist and Team Captain |
| 2021 | My Life Is Murder | Actor – season I, 'Brett' |
| The Masked Singer | Self | |
| 2021–22 | Give Us a Clue | Self – season I & II, Team Captain |
| 2022 | Snack Masters | Self – host |
| The Love Hour | Self – host | |
| 2023 | Sweet Tooth | Actor – 'Dudley' |
| Double Parked | Actor – 'Ambo Officer' | |
| Under the Vines | Actor – 'Jeremy' | |
| 2024 | Taskmaster NZ | Self |
| Spinal Destination | Writer, Actor – 'Dan' | |
| Guy Montgomery's Guy Mont-Spelling Bee | Self |
Film
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Pork Pie | Actor – 'Bongo' |
| Waru | Actor – 'Jason' | |
| 2017 | The Breaker Upperers | Actor – 'Man 1' |
| 2020 | Dead | Writer, Actor – 'Dane 'Marbles' Marbeck' (lead role) |
| Guns Akimbo | Actor – 'Singstar Dude' | |
| 2020 | Baby Done | Actor – 'Stupid Man' |
| 2021 | Nude Tuesday | Actor – 'Commuter' |
| 2023 | Loop Track | Director, Writer, Casting, Actor – 'Ian' |
| 2024 | The Rule of Jenny Pen | Actor – 'Carer Mike' |
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Tom Sainsbury". NZ On Screen. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
- ^ a b Simich, Ricardo (26 March 2023). "Tom Sainsbury plays 30 characters in new podcast". NZ Herald. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
- ^ a b "Thomas Tom Sainsbury | Auckland Actors". www.aucklandactors.co.nz. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
- ^ a b "Comedy's Mr Nice Guy Tom Sainsbury on hope and compassion". NZ Herald. 4 December 2022. Archived from the original on 7 May 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
- ^ a b c Dudding, Adam (25 November 2017). "The little voices in Thomas Sainsbury's head". Stuff. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ "Thomas Sainsbury". Verb Wellington. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ "Thomas Sainsbury – The University of Auckland". www.auckland.ac.nz. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ Sills, Ethan (13 October 2018). "Underground theatre shines through decade of disruption". NZ Herald. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Thomas Sainsbury". www.playmarket.org.nz. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ "Comedy.co.nz – The home of live NZ comedy. Comedians, News, Reviews , Video, Venues. The Classic Comedy Bar and Classic Studio – Tom Sainsbury". www.comedy.co.nz. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ "TV Award wins for Barbara Dreaver, Jack Tame, Te Karere, The Panthers". 1 News. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ "Dead - Film (trailer) - 2020". NZ On Screen. Archived from the original on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
- ^ "The Rule of Jenny Pen". Flicks.co.nz. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
- ^ "Thomas Sainsbury". IMDb. Archived from the original on 11 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ "The Rule of Jenny Pen". Flicks.co.nz. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
- ^ "Comedian Tom Sainsbury on Snapchat content and TV projects". Newstalk ZB. 20 December 2022. Archived from the original on 9 May 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
- ^ Olds, Jeremy (17 August 2017). "Thomas Sainsbury's Snapchat impersonations have politicians talking". Stuff. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
- ^ reporters, Auckland (13 January 2020). "Here's why Paula Bennett is grateful for Tom Sainsbury". Stuff. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
- ^ Sills, Ethan (10 December 2016). "Rising playwright Thomas Sainsbury wants to have a word with Peter Jackson". NZ Herald. Archived from the original on 4 June 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
- ^ "Thomas Sainsbury". Theatre Scenes: Aotearoa New Zealand Theatre. Archived from the original on 4 June 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
- ^ Casey, Alex (20 December 2016). "A merry Christmas chat with comedy legends Tom Sainsbury and Chris Parker". The Spinoff. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
- ^ "Top five Kiwi entertainment heroes of 2020". NZ Herald. 12 December 2020. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ "New Zealanders – Tom Sainsbury – Paperback". Harper Collins New Zealand. Archived from the original on 7 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
- ^ "New Zealanders – Tom Sainsbury – eBook". Harper Collins New Zealand. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
- ^ Harvey, Kerry (6 April 2022). "Cracking the snack code with Snack Masters NZ". Stuff. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
- ^ Parkes, Melenie (28 July 2021). "Clueless? Not us says trio behind Give Us A Clue". Stuff. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
- ^ "Ponsonby News - New Zealand". ponsonbynews.co.nz. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
- ^ "Tom Sainsbury's Small Town Scandal". iHeart. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ a b "NZME. - NZME celebrating huge award haul at 2024 NZ Radio and Podcast Awards". www.nzme.co.nz. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
- ^ Live, Auckland. "PLAYWRIGHTS B4 25". Auckland Live. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ "LOSER, by Thomas Sainsbury, is the latest publication from The Play Press. With a cast that can expand up to 37, or shrink to 3m and 3w, doubling, it is available from Playmarket ( info@playmarket.org.nz ) or direct from The Play Press, which offers a discount for rehearsal or study sets. Please ask, or check www.playpress.co.nz for all other details". Theatreview. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ "INSiDE | Series | Television". NZ On Screen. Archived from the original on 28 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
- ^ "New Zealand Podcast Awards 2023". NZ Podcast Awards. Retrieved 8 December 2023.