Jack Thorne

Jack Thorne is an acclaimed British writer known for his work across theatre, film, and television. He initially studied politics at the University of Cambridge before discovering his passion for the arts. Thorne’s career took off with stage and radio projects, eventually leading to prominent television work, including writing for Shameless and Skins. He co-created the series Cast-offs and co-wrote multiple installments of This Is England, as well as the acclaimed drama The Virtues.Thorne’s work at the Royal Court Theatre includes acclaimed plays such asHope, exploring British politics and social issues with characteristic depth. He is recognised for his empathetic characterisation and focus on themes of social justice and disability, reflecting his own experiences with chronic illness.

Thorne is a committed advocate for disability inclusion within the arts, drawing on his personal experience with chronic illness. His advocacy work is reflected in projects such as The Solid Life of Sugar Water, CripTales, and Don’t Take My Baby, which sensitively address disability. Thorne has been a vocal critic of the lack of representation for disabled individuals in television and film. In his 2021 MacTaggart Lecture at the Edinburgh TV Festival, he called for systemic industry change. In December 2021, he co-founded Underlying Health Condition, a group pushing to elevate disabled voices in media.

Thorne’s theatre credits also include Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (2016), for which he won an Olivier and a Tony Award. His adaptation of A Christmas Carol (2017) was praised for its depth and emotional resonance. His extensive screenwriting portfolio also includes films like Wonder (2017) and The Aeronauts (2019).

Jack Thorne spoke to Simon Stephens in S4 Ep5 of Playwright’s Podcast.