Tawhi Thomas is a multifaceted talent. His works, rich in cultural commentary and emotional depth, have made him a significant voice in contemporary theatre and one of our most acclaimed playwrights.
As an actor he has earned critical praise and portrayed multiple roles in everything from Shakespearean
kings, fops and fairies in Hamlet, The Taming of the Shrew, A Midsummer Night’s Dream to a prison inmate tattoo artist in Bella and a singing and dancing pirate in Treasure Island.
In 2010, Tawhi took his passion for theatre to the next level by mentoring teenagers at Centrepoint Theatre in Palmerston North taking drama workshops and writing a youth focused play Smashed. His growing dedication to nurturing young talent culminated in teacher training and then a hard working stint as a Senior Acting Tutor at Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School for several years.
Tawhi’s play Have Car Will Travel (2001) boldly established him as a writer to watch, delving into the chaotic collision of cultures and the experience of living in modern Aotearoa. His flair for blending humour with hard-hitting themes is further seen in future works Jangle (2010), Hui (2013) Pakaru (2019) and Matenui (2024) and has earned Tawhi multiple awards.
Continuing to forge work for both stage and screen, his journey through storytelling has all been about
bravely exposing the dark side of life but don’t be fooled by his gravitas, Tawhi knows how to keep things lively, heartwarming and hilarious!
His mantra is and always will be “Tell it like it is”.
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