NEWS
PLAY CHOSEN FOR ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY'S 37 PLAYS
May 2023
Proud as punch that my debut play Jack in a Box has been chosen as one of the RSC's 37 plays out of over 2000 submissions from all over the country.
The judging panel included RSC Artistic Director Erica Whyman, award-winning playwright Mark Ravenhill and Associate Editor of The Stage Lyn Gardner. The play was performed script-in-hand in Autumn 2023.
TV PILOT WINS WWFC'S PILOT ACCELERATOR COMPETITION
October 2021
Spinner & Marie has somehow gone on to win WWFC's inaugural Pilot Accelerator competition - I was lucky enough to be one of 8 fellows taken through their 6-week programme with Oscar & Emmy-winning judges and mentors which culminated in me being chosen to pitch for 9 companies including Netflix, HBO and Comedy Central.
SYNCHRONICITY FEATURE FILM KILL FOR CAA
June 2022
Principal photography has started on Synchronicity's latest feature film Kill for CAA. Directed by Rodger Griffiths and wonderfully co-written by Griffiths and Rob Drummond, the cast also includes Daniel Portman (Game of Thrones), Brian Vernel (Gangs of London), James Harkness (The Victim) and Paul Higgins (The Thick of It).
SPINNER & MARIE OPTIONED BY C21 -
AFTER AWARD WIN AT CONTENT LONDON
Nov 2021
Felt incredibly proud to have been a finalist at Content London's C21 Screenwriting competition pitching my first pilot. Was even MORE floored to have miraculously WON the thing. It's now officially been optioned and we're looking to attach a co-producer and hopefully get this show on the road.
CHOSEN AS ONE OF TRAVERSE THEATRE'S
BREAKTHROUGH WRITERS
February 2022
Beyond grateful to have been chosen for the Traverse's Breakthrough Writer's Launchpad programme with award-winning playwright Stef Smith. I'll be developing my play Jack in the Box with them over the next few months and I can't wait to get started!
SELECTED FOR GLASGOW FILM'S
NEW TALENT SCHEME
Decemeber 2021
Trying not to freak out at being chosen for Glasgow Film's New Talent scheme sponsored by BFI and Mubi. I'll be mentored over the course of 6 months by the legendary screenwriter that is Andrea Gibb. We've only had one session so far and she's already giving me absolute gold.
JACK IN A BOX AT TRON THEATRE
2023
My play Jack in a Box was selected for the Tron Theatre's Outside Eyes event where it played to a sold-out mainstage audience! It was my first time having my writing on stage and had the extra challenge ofme directing it too. The audiences were brilliant and I got loads of great feedback.
Hoping it will help as we work towards a funding app for an R&D with Stories Untold and Treaverse associate director Katherine Nesbitt attached to direct!
OUTLANDER SEASON 6
January 2022
Just moved into the Ridge playing new recurring character Amy McCallum.
It's nice. Breezy. Lotta bears but I'm sure it'll be fine.
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For realz though, I'm a genuine fan of this show and I hope I never lose sight of how cool this is. Also can we bring corsets back please thnx.
TITLE ROLE AT ROYAL EXCHANGE
Decemeber 2021
Prudencia in The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart by David Greig.
I’ll never be able to say how much this show meant to me. I’d wanted to play this part for over a decade and never thought I’d get close. Getting to do it on the Royal Exchange stage surrounded and supported by the BEST people around was the cherry on top. Debbie Hannan is a true and unparalleled powerhouse who steered this ship perfectly and listened to everyone along the way. Thank you for letting me be your Pru 📖
"As Prudencia, Joanne Thomson unravels beautifully..." The Guardian
SHORT FILM MAKES BFI
FUNDING SHORTLIST
July 2021
My short film On the Twelfth Day of Findom was one of only two projects chosen from Short Circuit's Convergence scheme to progress to their BFI Sharp Shorts funding shortlist! I'll be further developing the script over the next 3 months before pitching to financers in the hope of being selected for the £15,000 fund.
SPINNER & MARIE SELECTED FOR TWO
SCREENCRAFT QUARTERFINALS
June 2021
Entered these bad boys on a whim and somehow managed to place as a quarterfinalist in both the True Story and Comedy competitions which has placed me in the top 18% of all projects on Coverfly whaaa? The judging panels include numerous Oscar-winning showrunners & Writers... and Dan Levy's agent. Excuse me while I die.
SELECTED FOR SHORT CIRCUIT'S SCREENWRITING PROGRAMME
January 2021
I went out on a limb and sent my TV pilot to Short Circuit to apply for their Convergence Screenwriting programme and I've somehow managed to be selected as one the 10 participants! Over 6 months, I'll be working with them to develop my latest Short and Feature-length projects from outline to Script stage. The programme is ran in partnership with Screen Scotland and BFI Network.
TV PILOT MAKES SOUTH OF THE RIVER'S COMMENDATION LIST
December 2020
In an insane twist of fate, Spinner & Marie, the TV pilot I wrote in lockdown has only gone and been selected for Screenshot's Commendation List with Oscar-winner Olivia Colman's new company South of the River Pictures & Sister, the team behind HBO's Chernobyl. HRH Phoebe Waller-Bridge is on the judging panel. I'm not quite sure what's happening but I'm alright with it.
ACCEPTED INTO GROUNDLINGS
IMPROV SCHOOL - LOS ANGELES
January 2021
So during lockdown I auditoned for Groundlings in LA.
And I just found out I got in. So that's......... nice... and terrifying.
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Not sure how I'm meant to follow in the footsteps of Will Ferrel, Kristen Wiig and half the cast of SNL.
... Dear God, what have I done.
BBC'S THE SUFFRAGETTES WINS A BAFTA
April 2019
This is not a drill. Louis Theroux just gave us a BAFTA.
Thank you to all the wonderful women who made this absolute dream of a project. And thank you even more to the thousands of Suffragettes/Fighters/Goddesses who fought then and are still fighting today. The women who lost their lives eventually from the impact force feeding had on their bodies. The women on Black Friday who were trampled by horses and sexually assaulted by police just for trying to peacefully protest. The women all over the world right now who are having their rights taken away from them like we're in some horrendous prequel to The Handmaid's Tale. And the women who just refuse to turn a blind eye to it.
This. Is. For. You.
BBC'S THE VICTIM
NOMINATED FOR A BAFTA
April 2020
BBC One's The Victim has picked up a very well deserved BAFTA nomination at this year's awards for Best Mini-Series! Huge congrats to our director Niall, writer Rob, the full crew and the wonderful cast, especially Kelly MacDonald and James Harkness who were an insane joy to work with.
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BBC ONE - THE SUFFRAGETTES
WITH LUCY WORSLEY
April 2018
Just wrapped on Lucy Worsley's new Docudrama for the BBC playing real life
suffragette Mary Leigh.
This project was honestly such an honour to be a part of. Not only were we surrounded by a warm, kick ass, predominantly female crew... we also had the honour of researching and playing the women who shaped our country into what we now know it as. We got a taste of their lives for a little while, both in prison and out, captured amazingly by our incredible team. Our director, our exec producer, our line producer, our DOP, our costume, our hair and makeup, our camera operator, our boom operators, our sound, our art director, our head of lighting, our production manager - all. women. And absolutely at the top of their game.
Thank you for placing women both in front and behind of the camera and for letting this story be told as it should be. In their own words. Watch this space.
SIGNED WITH
CURTIS BROWN
February 2017
Crazy excited to now be represented by the legendary Curtis Brown Group!
Got an incredible team behind me with the amazing Debi Allen and Jess Molloy and can't wait to get started.
IARA AWARDS
DOUBLE BEST ACTRESS NOMINATION
July 2017
Excited to announce that I've been nominated for two Best Actress categories at the International Achievement Recognition Awards: Best Emerging Actress and Best Young Actress in Film/TV/Drama.
The Awards will take place on the 2nd of September in London - good luck to all the other nominees!
THE WHIP HAND -
BIRMINGHAM REP / TRAVERSE
NATIONAL THEATRE OF SCOTLAND
June 2017
Looking forward to starting rehearsals for The Whip Hand by Douglas Maxwell - a co-production with the Traverse Theatre and Birmingham Rep, in association with National Theatre of Scotland.
Rehearsals start this month and the play will run all of the Edinburgh Fringe at the Traverse, and then transfer to Birmingham Rep in September.
CRIMSON MEDIA LOS ANGELES
November 2016
Really excited to say that I'm now represented by Crimson Media Management in Los Angeles.
Matthew Seamons
Crimson Media Los Angeles
matthew@crimson.media
+1 818 387 6348
THE CHOIR AT THE CITIZENS THEATRE
November 2015
The Choir seems to be going down a storm at the Citizens Theatre with standing ovations almost every night! Audiences are loving it and it's a joy to be a part of this incredibly lovely and talented cast.
MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM -
BARD IN THE BOTANICS
July 2015
I've been cast as both Helena and Titania in Bard in the Botanics upcoming season. I thought this might have been a typo when I was offered it but I've been prancing around as both of them for a week now and no one seems to have stopped me so I'm pretty much just rolling with it...
It will be directed by Emily Reutlinger and we're exploring a feminist re-imaging of the play which is proving challenging but really interesting!
"This Dream belongs to the women.
As played by Meghan Tyler and Joanne Thomson, Hermia and Helena are stronger, more assertive and more sexually knowing than sometimes seen, and their sparring here is a furious delight." - Neil Cooper, Herald Scotland
SCOTTISH SHORT PLAY AWARD
MILK - TRAVERSE THEATRE
June 2015
I was cast as Steph in Ross Dunsmore's two hander short play Milk (aka Romance) which was directed by Amanda Gaughan (NTS/Lyceum) and was showcased with the other 3 finalists at the Traverse in Edinburgh.
"Exceedingly well-observed and superbly acted by Joanne Thomson and Cristian Ortega." - TV Bomb
GLASGOW SHORT FILM FESTIVAL
February 2015
Excited to announce that not one, but TWO films I shot last year have made the official seclection for the 2015 Glasgow Short Film Festival!
It's an honour to be part of one, never mind two.
BB by Kate Burton
Sunsets & Sillhouettes by Tim Courtney
Can't wait to see the screenings!
KILL JOHNNY GLENDENNING -
ROYAL LYCEUM / CITIZENS
December 2014
Kill Johnny went down a storm - it was one of the best shows I've had the
privilege of working on and with some of the best people I've ever met. We
opened to rave reviews and sell-out audiences and I'm already missing it like crazy!!
★★★★ Joyce McMillan, The Scotsman "...a searing Scottish gangster drama for our times."
★★★★ Neil Cooper, The Herald "...a fast and furious piece of comic myth-making to die for."
★★★★ Paul F. Cockburn, BroadwayBaby "...incredibly, laugh-out-loud funny."
★★★★ Gareth K. Vile, The List "...fast paced direction...delivers a sharp satire"
★★★★ David Pollock, Sunday Mail "brilliant one-liners...brash and in-your face"
Mark Brown, The Sunday Herald "Fiendishly good"
Allan Radcliffe, The Times "Exhilarating...highly entertaining...sparkling performances"
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Mark Fisher, The Guardian "...a script of machine-gun hilarity."
WW1 COMMEMORATION SERVICE -
BBC ONE
August 2014
I've been asked to take part in the WW1 Commemoration Service at Glasgow Cathedral by delivering a real life WW1 widow's account of her last night with her husband, for the Royal Family, Heads of the Commonwealth, and the rest of the world live on tv.
The more I read her beautiful words, the less nervous I get. If this woman can get through that grief, and the million other women like her, I should be able to cope with millions of people watching me say them.
What an absolute honour.
It will be broadcast live on BBC1 at 10am on the 4th August 2014.
GRADUATED FROM THE ROYAL CONSERVATOIRE OF SCOTLAND
July 2014
Today I graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland with a nice shiny BA in Acting.
I always wanted to train here, and I've been so lucky that I've managed to find myself in the most amazing year full of unbelievable talent and generosity. These are genuinely the best people and friends I have ever met. I cannot wait to see them all take over the world.
FESTEN - TRON THEATRE - 5 STAR REVIEW
June 2014
We shared Festen with a full house every night and every night we got a
standing ovation. In London we sold out the Cockpit Theatre.
This has without a doubt been the best thing I've worked on so far and we
have all been overwhelmed at the audience responses and reviews. The play
was unbelievably good already but to have the opportunity to work on it with
the most talented group of people I know made it what it was. It was an excellent end to 3 years at RCS.
Several people commented that it was the best student production they'd ever seen.
5 star review from the Herald.
"A superb, tense, brooding Festen, with superb performances across the board. Holds it own with the best professional productions in Scotland over the past year." Mark Brown, theatre critic, Sunday Herald & Daily Telegraph.
Playwright Iain Heggie said "Festen was by far the best play I've seen in years and head and shoulders above all the professional productions I've seen this year"
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We could not have asked for a better pair of directors than Prof. Maggie Kinloch and John Kazek. I've been so lucky to graduate in this year. I hope this won't be the last time I get to work with these wonderful people.
ANNA WEISS AT THE TRON THEATRE
February 2013
Anna Weiss completed a Sell Out run at the Tron to some great reviews.
Here's an extract from our 4 STAR review from The Scotsman by Joyce McMillan:
"Joanne Thomson’s beautifully-observed Lynn seems so sure of her ground that her story is hard to dismiss..."
"Jeanette Foggo’s tightly-paced production never misses a beat; and although Anna Weiss is a hard play to watch, it remains a uniquely powerful piece of theatre, on a theme none of us can now afford to ignore."
CINDERELLA - KING'S THEATRE EDINBURGH
January 2012
So Cinderella ran for 2 months to 4 star reviews and sold out audiences at the King's in Edinburgh. I had a brilliant time working with a fantastic team. "Joanne Thomson adds a level of feisty to Cinderella and has a delightful singing voice." - The Stage
BLACKOUT BY DAVEY ANDERSON -
UK TOUR
May 2011
Tonight, after a month and a half of touring, Blackout, the award-winning, 5 star, sell-out show finished with a full standing ovation from a sold-out theatre. I have been unbelievably proud to be a part of such an award-winning, 5 star, sell-out show and share the stage with some of the best people I have ever met. Directed by Neil Bettles (Frantic Assembly) and written by Davey Anderson, I knew when I wa soffered the job that this would be an incredible experience, but nothing could have prepared me for how well it has been recieved. Having the opportunity to perform at amazing venues like Dundee Rep, The Arches and the brand-spanking new Corby Cube has been brilliant - hopefully it won't be the last time!
BLACKOUT BY DAVEY ANDERSON - EDINBURGH FRINGE
September 2010
After a beyond brilliant month in Edinburgh, the fringe draws to a close. Think all of the ThickSkin team are still reeling from how great the show has done. Sold out everyday, nominated for the Adelaide Holden Street Theatres Award, won the coveted Arches Brick Award, amazing 5 star reviews left right and centre! Next stop - UK Tour in 2011!
