Thomas Sainsbury, actor and award winning writer of The Opening Night Before Christmas. Photo/Supplied.
Thomas Sainsbury, actor and award winning writer of The Opening Night Before Christmas. Photo/Supplied.
Ethan Sills talks to rising playwright and 48 HR winner Thomas Sainsbury about his continued success
If Thomas Sainsbury ever runs into Peter Jackson, he has one question for him: Why did his film win the 48 Hour Film Competition?
"I had very low expectations because we weren't nominated for any awards. We were just a wild card," says Sainsbury, whose film about a time travel call centre took out the top award.
His expectations were so low, Sainsbury didn't even stick around for the announcement.
"I watched all the films [but] choseto come to [the Basement] for a show. I just slipped out thinking, 'There's no chance I'm going to win'."
Yet (Time) Travel Centre did win, becoming the latest success for the Matamata-born playwright. The 34-year-old is rising through the ranks of the Auckland theatre scene. He has written dozens of plays, several which have played overseas; his Camping was a sell-out success at the Comedy Fest, and he is the co-lead of WatchMe web series Stake Out.
It's been a phenomenal rise, but it's not one Sainsbury planned. As a kid, he always imagined himself becoming an actor.
"I would always tell stories to myself. I would be regurgitating and adapting TV shows that I saw, just to myself.
"It sounds kind of wanky to say, but instead of me finding [writing], it was kind of thrust upon me."
The cast of The Opening Night Before Christmas. L-R Brynley Stent, Thomas Sainsbury, Kura Forrester, Byron Coll. Photo/Supplied.
Now, Sainsbury is behind the biggest play this Christmas season. The Opening Night Before Christmas is the eighth annual Christmas play from the Basement Theatre, a tradition that has become as much of an Auckland holiday season staple as Franklin Rdand the Santa Parade.
It's a huge gig, but sitting in the Basement's surprisingly spacious green room, Sainsbury appears calm.
"It doesn't require much," he says of the rehearsals. "The second half is mostly improv, so we can't really prepare for that, we're just working on the first half."
Opening Night tells the story of the Levin Community Players, who have been doing the same Christmas play for 20 years . But director Rosa-Lynne Martin Shanks has some interesting ideas for their show after a trip to the World of Wearable Arts.
"It's dark in the sense that the subject matter she wants to deal with - all these things around Christmas like commercialism - but the way she's going about it is a bit naive."
Transport yourself to small town Levin for a night and watch chaos unfold in The Opening Night Before Christmas. Get to know the colourful characters and check out the line-up of celebrity actors on our website. Trailer by our mates at Chillbox Creative!
Dec 6 - 22
More info: bit.ly/2fU6Ogq
As part of jazzing up the show, Rosa-Lynne has booked an Auckland actor to headline the performance - which opens the door for a rotating cast of guest actors every night, including Jennifer Ward-Lealand, Madeline Sami, Amanda Billing, Louise Wallace, Robbie Magasiva, and Morgana O'Reilly.
Having a different guest every show means no time for rehearsing. Instead, whereasthe first half is fully scripted, the second is mostly improvised, which sounds risky, but the Basement business development manager Sam Snedden is excited for it.
"Every year, we try to change things and adapt the model to become more robust. The [guest actor] format we've come up with now, it's a really good formant what we've just happened upon. I think [Opening Night] is right up there with the best we've done."
Thomas Sainsbury, right, with frequent collaborator Chris Parker in one of their previous plays, Hauraki Horror.
Sainsbury and his frequent co-writer, fellow Snort comedian Chris Parker, were approached to write the Christmas play after their success with Camping. Snedden, who is also directing Opening Night, has nothing but praise for Sainsbury.
"One of the great joys of working on this project with him is, after knowing him for a number of years, and having watched his work develop, his voice has really matured and he has become a really good writer, and a fine performer as well."
Sainsbury, who was originally meant to play the director, also stars in the play as Glenn Innes, a scheming, power-hungry stage manager.
"He's based on the type of person called a crazy maker. It's someone who really wants to do something, but he's got fears and hangups that stop him doing that. So [Innes] has gothimself into a position of power where hecan punish these people because they are actors."
Snedden credits Sainsbury for making Innes into a terrible, Basil Fawtly-esque character you still cheer for.
"A lot of people are relying on me to be at the top of my game."
Get to know stage manager Glenn Innes and his hopes and dreams for the show. One week till The Opening Night Before Christmas!
Dec 6 - 22
More info: bit.ly/2fU6Ogq
"You can be laughing at the horrible situation he's found himself in some of the time, but you also feel bad for him, and I think that's a real credit to Tom's characterisation and performance.
"He's so good at riding that fine line between a character being completely ugly and being just human enough that you root for them."
Although Sainsbury got his start through community theatre, he says he does not want to make fun of amateur dramatics.
"I love these characters. [Some people] may ask 'Why are you taking the piss out of people?', but across the board, everything I do is taking the piss out of something, and it's usually done with love."
The Opening Night Before Christmas is on at the Basement Theatre until December 22with two shows every night at 7pm and 9:30pm. Tickets are available here
