I Ain’t Dumb

A tough inner-city school, proud of its inclusivity, suddenly explodes in a rapidly escalating culture war.

Sex secrets, hip-hop and hope fight for centre stage in a vibrant, loud and proud, real talk rollercoaster.

Tom Wright’s hard-hitting new play tackles contemporary issues in a school setting, published to coincide with Coventry’s year as City of Culture.

Tom Wright is a writer, director, dramaturg and producer. He focuses on creating transgressive, but unashamedly entertaining new work, as well dedicating himself to expanding and diversifying the LGBTQ+ cannon.

He is the New Work Associate at Kiln Theatre where he is responsible for guiding the commissioning, developing and programming of new work, including brand new works by Zadie Smith, Roy Williams and Marina Carr. He created the Kiln Young Writers Programme that supports local first-time writers to use their voices, alongside managing Kiln’s esteemed Artistic Associates.

As Head of Artist Development at The Old Vic, Tom ran the prestigious Old Vic 12, leading the scheme over five years towards its groundbreaking repertory season in partnership with Shoreditch Town Hall. Through an array of innovative projects, Tom developed over fifteen new plays and helped springboard countless theatre artists into the next stage of their career, many of whom are fast becoming major names.

His two back-to-back debut plays My Dad’s Gap Year (Park Theatre) and Undetectable (King’s Head Theatre) were nominated for seven Off West End Awards including Best New Play and Most Promising Playwright. Tom’s third play Very Special Guest Star (Omnibus Theatre) was described in The Guardian as a ’thoroughly original play that entertains, provokes and unsettles’.

His next project I Ain’t Dumb will premiere at the Belgrade Theatre as part of UK City of Culture celebrations in his hometown of Coventry. Other projects include the musical adaptation of Jamie O’Neill’s award-winning novel ’At Swim, Two Boys’ retitled Rebel Song (The Other Palace), and Sirens and White Lies (ArtsEd) a double-bill of new plays both written and directed by Tom.

As a theatre director, recent credits include Blowhole (Soho Theatre and Pleasance Theatre), Dumbledore Is So Gay (Pleasance Theatre and Vault Festival, Origins Award Winner) and Tumble Tuck (King’s Head Theatre, Underbelly Edinburgh, Soho Theatre and Old Vic New Voices). Tom has been an Associate Director to Rikki Beadle-Blair on Legendary Children In The House Of Fierce (Theatre De Meervaart) and The Method (ALRA), and to Indhu Rubasingham on her remounted production of The Invisible Hand (Kiln Theatre).

Tom’s debut short film Stockholm premiered at BFI Flare: London LGBTQ+ Film Festival. It was selected for both the LA and Indianapolis LGBTQ+ Film Festivals, winning Best Cinematography. His second short film Kweenship was completed in the same year. He is currently under commission by Sky Arts to develop his third short film ’Sent To Cov’ for broadcast.

Self-organisation, mentorship and skill sharing are central to Tom’s collaborative activity. Whether offering feedback on scripts, facilitating workshops, running his annual LGBTQ+ playwriting course, or curating shadowing placements, Tom hopes this nurturing of the next generation of talent forms an ever-expanding revolution of empowered, joyful and disruptive theatre artists.