Tommy Murphy

Who is Tommy Murphy?

Tommy Murphy is an Australian playwright and screen writer. His plays are known for their humour and buoyant theatricality.

He was born in Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia, the seventh of eight children in a Catholic family. He is a graduate of the University of Sydney and of the National Institute of Dramatic Art.

He was a resident writer at Griffin Theatre Company 2004-06, for which he wrote Strangers in Between and Holding the Man. Both plays are published by Currency Press, in one volume. Strangers in Between won the national 2006 NSW Premier's Literary Award for Best Play, and Holding the Man won the same Award in 2007. Murphy is the youngest recipient of the award, and the only playwright to win in successive years.

Holding the Man had an encore season at Griffin before transferring to Sydney Opera House, Belvoir, Melbourne Theatre Company and Brisbane's Powerhouse. It played London's West End from 23 April to 3 July 2010. Guy Edmonds and Matt Zeremes were joined by new cast members Jane Turner, Kath from TV's Kath & Kim, and Simon Burke. David Berthold directed and Brian Thomson designed. The Trafalgar Studios season was produced by Daniel Sparrow and Mike Walsh.