Jack Thorne

Jack Thorne
Name	Jack Thorne
Birth date	1978
Birth place	London, England
Occupation	Playwright, screenwriter, television writer, producer
Years active	2000s–present
Notable works	The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, This Is England '88, A Monster Calls, National Treasure, The Rest of Us

Jack Thorne is an English playwright and screenwriter known for work in contemporary theatre, television, and film. He has written award-winning stage plays and high-profile television dramas, and adapted literature for screen and stage. His projects frequently engage with social issues, disability, and youth culture.

Early life and education

Born in London in 1978, he was raised in a family with connections to the performing arts and film industries. He studied at University of Manchester and trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School before beginning his professional writing career. Early influences included exposure to British theatre in venues such as the Royal Court Theatre and the National Theatre.

Career

His early professional work included commissions for fringe companies and regional venues including Manchester Royal Exchange and Royal Exchange Theatre. He collaborated with directors and producers across stage and screen, working with institutions like the BBC, Channel 4, and the Royal Shakespeare Company. In television he contributed to serial dramas and mini-series, writing episodes and original teleplays for shows affiliated with Channel 4, Sky Atlantic, and HBO co-productions. In theatre he developed plays produced at the Old Vic, Almeida Theatre, and Royal Court Theatre.

He transitioned between mediums, adapting novels and original material for both film studios and independent producers, collaborating with filmmakers and producers connected to companies such as Working Title Films and BBC Films. He has also been involved with charity and advocacy organizations focused on arts access, disability representation, and youth provision, engaging with groups like Arts Council England and advocacy campaigns linked to disability charities.

Major works and adaptations

Stage: He was a co-writer on the stage adaptation of a bestselling novel staged at the National Theatre before transferring to the West End and Broadway. Other notable plays premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, Almeida Theatre, and regional houses such as the Young Vic.

Television: His television credits include original drama serials and adaptations for Channel 4, BBC Two, and streaming platforms. He wrote episodes and created series that intersect with established properties and original IP, collaborating with creators associated with franchises and anthology series on networks like Sky and Netflix.

Film: He adapted novels for feature films produced by companies linked to Focus Features and Pathé, working with directors familiar from stage-to-screen adaptations. Among his film work is an adaptation of a fantasy novel with visual effects teams that have collaborated with studios such as Warner Bros. and Universal Pictures.

Adaptations and collaborations: He adapted award-winning novels and partnered with novelists, composers, and directors from institutions including the Royal Opera House and the BBC Philharmonic to create cross-disciplinary productions. Co-writers and collaborators have included established playwrights and screenwriters connected to the Royal Court and television auteurs who have worked on series for HBO and BBC One.

Awards and honours

He has received major British and international awards, including prizes from institutions such as the Olivier Awards, BAFTA, and festival juries at events like the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. He has been shortlisted and awarded writing prizes administered by bodies including the Writers' Guild of Great Britain and received recognition from arts funding organizations such as Arts Council England. His productions have been nominated for and won theater and screen awards at ceremonies hosted by institutions like the Critics' Circle and Tony Awards nominations following West End to Broadway transfers.

Personal life

He lives and works in the United Kingdom, maintaining professional ties to London theatres and television production centers. He has been public about aspects of his own life that inform his writing, engaging in public debates and interviews with outlets such as The Guardian, The Telegraph, and broadcast platforms including BBC Radio 4 and Channel 4 News.

Themes and influences

His work frequently explores disability, adolescence, trauma, family dynamics, and marginalised communities, drawing on influences from contemporary British playwrights and international dramatists. Influential figures and institutions in his career include playwrights associated with the Royal Court Theatre, directors from the National Theatre, and novelists whose works have been adapted for stage and screen. He often employs realist techniques and collaborates with composers and designers linked to companies such as the Royal Shakespeare Company and major theatre festivals like the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Category:English dramatists and playwrights Category:English screenwriters