Tom has been working in theatre for the past 11 years. He trained at the Arts Educational Schools and worked as an actor througout the UK and internationally. Tom moved into directing in 2010 receiving a training bursary from Theatre Royal Stratford East, has studied directing with Elen Bowman of Living Pictures and was recently invited to take part on 2015 National Theatre Studio Directors Course. He is currently a Creative Projects Associate at Nothampton Theatre Royal and Derngate and Artistic Director of TREMers.

This December Tom's production of Our Friends, The Enemy will transfer to Theatre Row on 42nd Street, New York for a limited two week run this `December. The show recently toured the UK after completing a successful run at The Edinburgh Fringe festival in 2013. The production was also selected by the Premier League to be the offical performance in Belgium for their commemoration of the First World War Centenary - www.ourfriendstheenemy.com

Most recently Tom directed the premiere of The Dogs of War by Tim Foley at The Old Red Lion. The production was chosen as Theatre Pick of the Week by The Stage and has been nominated for 3 Off West End Awards.

"Tantalizes and grips right to the end" - Evening Standard

More information and reviews: www.thedogsofwarplay.com

In 2013 Tom directed the sell-out 21st anniversary production of The Fastest Clock In The Universe by Philip Ridley.  The production was critically acclaimed and filmed for the V&A's National Video Archives of Performance. 

"Director Tom O’Brien’s production is disturbingly, inescapably sexy. The darkly poetic language of Ridley’s script, woven with humour and lust, is mastered by O’Brien’s superb cast of five" - Fourth Wall Magazine

Other Directing credits include: I Rise Up (Petal's Floral Tea Rooms), Remote (The Drum, Theatre Royal Plymouth for Kidz R Us), Harper Regan (Mountview), Merrily We Roll Along (Crescent Theatre, Birmingham), The Fastest Clock In The Universe (Old Red Lion), Daisy Pulls It Off (Liverpool Theatre School), The Wedding Singer, How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying (The Lowry), Our Friends, The Enemy (Theatre 503/Edinburgh/UK Tour), Coming Up for Short Plays By Steven Hevey (Soho Theatre), Judy The Righteous (Trafalgar Studios/King's Head), First and Last (Tristan Bates Theatre), Christmas is Miles Away (Hen and Chickens), Out of The Kitchen (Waterloo East), Word To The Action - an evening of Shakespeare (Nell of Old Drury). Associate Director: Little Women (LOST Theatre).

Assistant Director credits include: Dangerous Lady (Theatre Royal Stratford East), Thoroughly Modern Millie (The Watermill), Merrily We Roll Along (Clwyd Theatr Cymru), Ruben Guthrie (New Wimbledon Studio), Buried Child (Upstairs At The Gatehouse), Little Women (LOST Theatre), Romeo & Juliet (Camden People’s Theatre), A Clockwork Orange (C Venues, Edinburgh).

Tom has assisted directors such as Lisa Goldman, Caroline Leslie, Nikolai Foster & Nicola Samer. Tom was previously Acting Artistic Director of The Company Music Theatre and Youth Theatre Director at The Churchill Theatre, Bromley.

Tom regularly collborates with writers Philip Ridley, Abi Zakarian, Steven Hevey, Alex Gwyther and Tim Foley.